Anklets Ahoy!
"Hail to that foot of the lusty beloved
which hits the head of the lover, that foot which is adorned with red
paste and jingling anklets is the banner of love and which is worthy
of adoration by inclining one's head."
From the 5th century drama, Padataditakam (Hit
by the Foot)
The human race can be so immensely creative, so
immensely passionate, and this is what makes our lives so immensely
rich and at times so immensely difficult, painful.
The anklet, a romantic foot fetish of great
aesthetic value, is a very important part of women's adornment in the
Indian culture where the ornamentation of a woman's whole body is an
essential aspect of daily life, and has great spiritual and social
significance.
Old Indian paintings, drama and poetry often
depict men treasuring the touch of their lover's foot. Women lavish
great care and attention on their feet, almost with as much as their
face. The tender, delicate and well pampered foot becomes a symbol of
affection, sensual desire and plays an important role in love-play.
Indian poets were inspired to picture the
movements of the lover's dance and the jingling of the bells on her
anklets as seductive and bewitching. The idea being that the woman has
adorned herself seductively in anticipation of a meeting with a secret
lover.
The classical Indian dance also concentrates on
the dancer's rhythmic footwork, particularly the elaborately detailed
positioning of her feet in relation to the ground. The overall effect
is ever so subtle, sensuous & erotic.
But, I also read about the practical effects of
the anklets with foot bells. One is that in some tribes' husbands give
their wives these anklets in order to frighten snakes away. Then
again, I also read that the husbands give their wives anklets with
bells so that they can keep an "ear" on them, should they
"dance" out of range!!
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About the Author
My specialty is chokers. My concept:
painting with beads. With semiprecious stones, Venetian style, lamp,
& faceted crystals/beads, I create limited edition pieces. After
spending much time studying beads & bead history, I discovered
that glass beads have an auspicious background just like diamonds,
pearls, & semiprecious stones. Inspired by this & by many
pleasures in life, I design individual chokers that each have a name,
a character, a story. http://www.fadwa.com/
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