A maang tikka is an essential part of the Indian bridal look and it completes the get up of the bride. Sitting right at the parting of the hair in the middle, it provides elegance to the bride’s face and acts as fine statement jewellery. It is a symbol for the bride’s power and wisdom apart from being just a piece of jewellery.

Maang tikkas come in various shapes and designs and here are some of the options which can complete the Indian bridal look.

• Pendant Style Maang Tikka-   Pendant style maang tikkas are small in size, about the size of a pendant, but very pretty and classy. They look good on women with a small, round face and can sit perfectly below your parting. This kind of maang tikka is actually a part of traditional wedding jewellery. You can try out a lot of options like a small florla design with kundans or pearls and stones, or a teardrop pendant like maangtika. Or you may have a stylish design made in gold.

• Chunky Maang Tikka- Women with a broad forehead or longish face should opt for a bigger maang tikka that is chunky and attracts attention while giving a form to your face. These act as statement jewellery and are bold apart from being just big and chunky. Choose large pieces studded with meenakari or kundan stone design for a bold and glamorous look on your wedding.

• Bodla-   Bodla is the specialty of Rajasthani and Hariyanvi women. It is small and spherical in shape with a pointed end. The end portion points outside and the rounded bodla sits at the hair parting. It is attached to the hair by a small, thin chain. It can be just plain or studded with stones. The best example of bodla in Bollywood is the one worn by Aishwarya Rai in Jodha Akbar as the Rajput princess. You can complete with Rajasthani bridal look with the touch of a bodla.

• Jhoomar Passa- Jhoomar passas are a part of traditional Muslim wedding jewellery and looks stunning and royal. It is usually made of a string of pearls or stones attached to a gold piece and the jhoomar passa is triangular in shape or fanned out. It is worn on one side of the forehead, along with or without the maang tika and looks fabulous.

• One Tier Matha Patti- A matha patti is an extra layer of simple chains which may be studded with stones or pearls or beads and are attached to both sides of the forehead as extensions from the maang tikka. Sometimes they may have little bells attached. A one tier matha patti has just one single line extending on both sides from the maang tikka. In India most bridal looks are considered incomplete with this one.

• Two Tier Matha Patti- For a heavier bridal look and for women with a bigger face and broader forehead, a two tier matha patti looks really good. It has two chains or two lines of attachments on both sides of the maang tikka, which you need to clip on behind the ears.

• Multi Tier Matha Patti- This is the final and extravagant bridal look where multiple tiers on both sides of the maang tikka are attached to the bride’s hair for a heavy and fuller look. It looks extremely regal because of the wide area it covers and the touch of extravaganza it provides, reminiscing the Rajput or Mughal days.