Newari ornaments name list
Tuki
Tuki is double stud jewelry inserted in the helix of the ear. These are worn by elder women after their ritual procession called Janku. Most Tuki are plain in design but some are in floral design.
Kalli
Kalli is worn around the ankles. It is usually made of silver and round shaped.
Tayo
Tayo is one of the largest Newar ethnic Jewelry pieces of Nepal. It is a necklace worn by Newar girls, brides, and women as well as deities like Lokeswors, Yognis, Dipankers, and Kumaris on the special ceremony. Tayo has high symbolic meanings and religious values. It is worn as it is believed that the pointed pendent part of the necklace symbolizes the Kathmandu Valley, while the facets of the pendent for the directions of the Valley, and a center jewel under the hood of the snake-heads is for the Swayambhu Stupa of the Kathmandu valley.
The Swayambhu Stupa stands for the Pancha Buddhas. The places for the five Buddhas ( Pancha Buddha) in the Stupa are in a Mandala position Vairochan in the center, Akhswovya in the east, Amitabhava in the west, Amogha-sidhi in the north and Rana-Sambhava in the South. The Mandala symbolizes the Universe of the World related to Mahayana Buddhism. Such is the importance of Tayo in the cultural heritage of Nepal. Pratapaditya Pal, the author of “Arts of Nepal” (a catalog of the Los Angeles County Museum) remarked, “One example of gold jewelry (Tayo), its quality is eloquent testimony of the Newar craftsmen’s skill”
Ghau
Ghau is an amulet box pendant with semi-precious stones. The box is attached to coral beads, and Buddhist women in the hilly regions of Nepal wear it. It is a symbolic jewelry piece related to the Mahayan Buddhism. The stones at the corners and the center signify the five Pancha- Buddhas of Swayambhu Stupa like that of a Tayo, a traditional necklace worn by the Newar women of the valley.
Kilip
Kilip is a finely worked-out gold head ornament. It is very popular among almost all tribes of Nepal. It is oval with a cluster of flowers motif and usually a peacock on the top. Sometimes, Kilip may be in moon shape. It is used as a hair clip on the back of the head. The back of the Kilip is made of silver with a lock on it. People in the hill area use Kilip in pairs.
Lunswan
Lu means gold and swan means flower means golden flower. Lunswan is a circular disk-type ornament made of gold. It is popular among almost all tribes of Nepal. It is worn on the top or back of the head. It has a quite big coral in the center with an image of Ganesh on the coral. To make a Lunswan, first, a sheet of gold is prepared in a circular shape and a cluster of flowers and leaves are carved around the coral. It is usually used at weddings and festivals. A normal Lunswan is about 12 cm. in diameter and about 100g in weight.
Nyapu Shikha
Nyapu Shikha is named for the five gold chain. It is another elaborate piece worn on the head. It has many small strings attached to a point and is worn on the side.
