Zaheda; [Author]

Saleha Akter Urmi; [Facilitator]

My jewellery (embroidery)

Fultola (embroidery)

Embroidery (EMB)

Decorative

Zaheda’s grandmother used to wear a nakor bali (septum nose ring), and she looked very beautiful. As a child, Zaheda always dreamed of wearing nakor bali like her grandmother. She also likes nak ful (nose pin) and now has a nak ful among her wedding jewelry.

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.