India Jewelry Wooing Hollywood Celebrities

India's jewelry, which has been playing a vital role in the lifestyle of India's people since Indus Valley Civilization, is reportedly becoming popular with Hollywood and other celebrities.

Many celebrities, including Oscar winners Angelina Jolie (Changeling) and Halle Berry (Monster's Ball), Sandra Bullock (Miss Congeniality), Maria Menounos (Tropic Thunder), Megan Fox (Transformers), Jennifer Lopez (Maid in Manhattan), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), etc., have been spotted wearing fine Indian jewelry designs. 'slumdog effect may have strengthened the already started trend,

Acclaimed Indo-american statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that this went well with growing interest in yoga, meditation and spirituality. Most were reportedly choosing 22 karat gold and the motifs included ancient India influenced handcrafted snakes, Om, scrolls, etc., involving various jewelry traditions of India. One American jeweler had even launched Kali Ma collection focusing on Indian designs. Some were using fusion of both traditional and contemporary designs.

Indus Valley people were reportedly creating gold necklaces and earrings by about 1,500 BCE. Some of India's diamond mines dated back to 296 BCE and it was the first country to mine diamonds. Jewelry is extensively used in Indian ceremonies and weddings.

Rajan Zed, who is the chairperson of Indo-american Leadership Confederation, urged celebrities who loved jewellery of India to explore some rich philosophical thought of Hinduism also, which was oldest and third largest religion of the world with moksha (liberation) as ultimate goal.