In the culture of Uttarakhand, Nath (large ring worn on left nostril) plays a dominant role. Nath is an import part of the Kumaoni woman’s traditional attire. There is an interesting story of a woman whose Father had demanded a large Nath to solemnize her marriage.
The story goes like this. Once upon a time there was a rich person who wanted to marry his son. He approached a girl’s father, who was a rich Contractor. During the discussions, the father of the girl posed a question, whether he has the status and standard to offer a 4 Tola (46.5 gram) Nath to his daughter. If yes the relationship can be established. The boys’ father immediately accepted the challenge and said yes, he would provide a 4 Tola Nath to his daughter-in-law. As per tradition the boys’ father offers gold Jewelry to the girl at the time of marriage. Bubbling with pride the boy’s father offered Jewelry including a 4 Tola Nath to the bride at the time of marriage. The father of the girl accepted the gesture and the marriage got solemnized with great fanfare.
The boys’ father could not relish the demand of the girls’ father and he decided to increase the weight of the Nath just to show off his prosperity and riches. At the first opportunity when he got good profit in the business, he increased the weight of the Nath to 5 Tola (58.3 Gram). He continued doing this year to year. In the hills the women wear the Nath every day and throughout the day. The daughter-in-law was also required to wear the Nath every day. She was feeling great difficulty in wearing the weighty Nath, with the result the hole on the nostril became very large. Once again the Boys’ father got very good profit in business. He ordered to increase the weight of the Nath by another Tola. The new Nath was given to the bride for wearing the same. The bride did wear it. But in the process the nostril could not bear the weight of the Nath and the nostril tattered and nose started bleeding. The moral of the story is one should not believe in show off and should not boast unnecessarily.
