Well, a full set would have a haar, jhumkas, bangles, maang tikka, kamarband, payal and more—each with its ritual purpose. But what I learned, planning my daughter's wedding from Assam, is that the most crucial 'piece' is the invoice. Every ornament is for displaying the family's standing, a weight measured in grams and loans. My small successes with hand-pumps did not prepare me for the sheer economics of *samaj* in a North Indian wedding; our pride is currently being weighed against a jeweller's ledger.
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