- Avarna Jain,
Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media
From intricate and colourful ear cuffs, to earrings that will be the standout piece in your jewellery collection, here's what goes into accessorising the ears!

Your ear stack will have prime real estate in beauty shots during the wedding celebrations. These jewellery pieces don’t just frame your face—they’re a gateway into India’s rich history.
In Ayurveda, for example, certain piercings like the daith are believed to bring mental clarity. And in Rajasthan and Gujarat, Rajput queens and tribal women adorned their helix and lobes with intricate silver hoops and studs, often linked with chains to their headpieces as a symbol of resilience and wealth. Many iconic Indian paintings, such as The Coquette (c. 1893) and Lady With a Fruit (1894) by Raja Ravi Varma, serve as visual records of these styles, showcasing how women in the 18th century adorned their ears.

Today, contemporary designers are reinterpreting these age-old earpieces with playful placements and unexpected styling. Whether it’s a temple jewellery-inspired design that extends from the hairline to the lobe or a row of diamonds in personalised placements—the creative possibilities are truly endless.
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In South Indian temple iconography, goddesses are often depicted wearing elaborate ear ornaments known as karnabhūsana. These earrings feature intricate motifs such as lotus petals, serpents, and mythical creatures. Notably, temples like Brihadeeswara in Thanjavur and Chennakesava in Belur showcase detailed representations in their sculptures. Bollywood brings this tradition to life in the 2025 film Chhaava, where Maharani Yesubai (played by Rashmika Mandanna) wears kaanphools much like those seen in temple carvings.









This story appears in Manifest India’s Issue 02. Subscribe here for more stories like this.