These are symbols of femininity that are passed on from mother to daughter

Illustration/Devdutt Pattanaik

If you travel to central India, the Maria tribe is famous for its bison headdresses. It’s quite a characteristic feature. The Maria tribe lives in the Maharashtra area and makes a striking image as they beat their drums. Strings of cowrie shells cover the face of the drummers.

Meanwhile, in the Gujarat-Rajasthan area, the Banjara women wear camel bones as armlets, bracelets, and bangles, similar to shell bangles worn by women in Bengal. They wear the maang-tika on their head, and don colourful attire.

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Far to the north in Tibet, women wear the Perak. This is a leather headdress which hangs to the back, covering the back of the neck that is........

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