Sonam’s wrist mangalsutra, a trend?
The style quirks of Sonam Kapoor Ahuja put her at the top of the list of Bollywood’s most fashionable divas. But not every one of her style moves is a hit — and the ruthless netizens are quick to take digs at celebs in the name of moral policing, cultural appropriation, and religious sentiments. Recently, Sonam was trolled for wearing her mangalsutra (a neckpiece worn by married women) on her wrist. People on social media bashed her for what they saw as vilifying Indian culture and deriding the very concept of the mangalsutra. However, fashion peeps have given a thumbs up to Sonam’s style. Designer Rina Dhaka says, “It’s much ado about nothing. Trolls are there to bash you for anything and everything. If you read [Hindu] mythology, it says that the stones of the mangalsutra should touch your pulse — and she wrapped it around her wrist in just the right way. Nowhere did she intend to malign our tradition.”
Actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra has worn her mangalsutra as a bracelet for years. In 2010, she was also slammed for doing so.
Designer Nida Mahmood tells us, “Religion is something that inspires you; it shouldn’t be a stumbling block. Sonam is celebrating her married life by wearing the mangalsutra around her wrist. I don’t think that’s disrespect.”
Will this become a trend? Designer Dhruv Vaish thinks it might. “She at least wore it, and stylishly, too. After this, the hand mangalsutra is certainly going to be a thing,” he says.