Mangal Sutra

(“auspicious thread”) Symbol worn by
married women primarily in southern
India indicating their married status.
Married women are considered to be
inherently auspicious, since their
potential generative power can be
expressed through socially sanctioned
procreation. Accounts from several centuries ago describe this symbol as a simple thread, often colored yellow with
turmeric; in contemporary times the
mangal sutra is often an elaborate necklace. Wearing a mangal sutra indicates
that a woman has a living husband, thus
she is a vessel of auspicious qualities.
For these reasons, a woman must
remove her mangal sutra upon being
widowed, as she must remove all the
other symbols of marriage.