For many women, Eid al-Fitr is the festival of joy and colours, feels incomplete without the deep shades of henna and the cheerful clinking of bangles. But this year, a new sound has joined the celebrations: the delicate chime of Kashmiri bangles, whose tiny ghungroos are ringing through markets and social media alike.
What started as a viral fashion moment online has quickly turned into one of the most sought-after and surprisingly rare items in Pakistan’s Eid markets.
When worn together, the bright red, emerald green, golden and turquoise sets appear like a rainbow from Kashmir resting on the wrists.
The bangles are easily recognised by their four small ghungroo-decorated kadas, paired with slim glass or metal bangles that fill the rest of the set. Customers can choose whether the filling is glass, metal, or a mix of both, creating colourful combinations that sparkle when worn together.
What has surprised traders most is the sudden increase in price. A set that was earlier sold for around Rs350 is now being sold for up to Rs3,500, while in many markets the bangles have become difficult to find.
The sudden demand just days before Eid has created pressure on manufacturers and importers.
Traders say that traditionally Hyderabad and Sukkur glass bangles have dominated Pakistan’s Eid markets. Popular varieties include lacha bangles, lacquer bangles, pearl bangles, metal kadas, stone-studded bangles and colourful glass sets worn by generations of women.
