Morijan; [Author]

Saleha Akter Urmi; [Facilitator]

My jewellery (embroidery)

Fultola (embroidery)

Embroidery (EMB)

Decorative

Baiya is a big necklace. Morijan got married recently in the camp. During her early teenage years, she saw many brides wearing baiya at their weddings, and this stirred her desire. Her dream is one day to have a baiya of her own. She is saving money to have a big necklace made and fullfill her dream.

Jewellery is precious to Rohingya women, like many women around the world. Gold jewellery is given to brides as mohorana (dower) when they are married, usually during the fultula-toli (engagement ceremony). The mohorana is a form of financial security for the woman: a source of support on which she can fall back in the event that she is widowed or divorced. While heavy silver jewellery was common among the Rohingya in older days, it is rarely seen today. Delicate gold jewellery, often with floral motifs, is preferred.