The Bangle Sellers
By Sarojini Naidu
Bangle sellers are we who bear
Our shining loads to the temple fair…
Who will buy these delicate, bright
Rainbow-tinted circles of light?
Lustrous tokens of radiant lives,
For happy daughters and happy wives.
Some are meet for a maiden’s wrist,
Silver and blue as the mountain mist,
Some are flushed like the buds that dream
On the tranquil brow of a woodland stream,
Some are aglow with the bloom that cleaves
To the limpid glory of new born leaves.
Some are like fields of sunlit corn,
Meet for a bride on her bridal morn,
Some, like the flame of her marriage fire,
Or, rich with the hue of her heart’s desire,
Tinkling, luminous, tender, and clear,
Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.
Some are purple and gold flecked grey
For she who has journeyed through life midway,
Whose hands have cherished, whose love has blest,
And cradled fair sons on her faithful breast,
And serves her household in fruitful pride,
And worships the gods at her husband’s side.
Introduction to the Poet
Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) was an influential Indian poet, freedom fighter, and the first woman to become the Governor of an Indian state and the President of the Indian National Congress. Born in Hyderabad, India, Naidu was a child prodigy who began writing poetry in English at the age of twelve. She studied in England and was influenced by British Romantic poets while maintaining her strong Indian cultural identity. Known as the “Nightingale of India” for her beautiful lyrical poetry, Naidu wrote about Indian themes, traditions, and landscapes. Her works celebrate India’s rich cultural heritage, the beauty of nature, and everyday life. Besides being a gifted poet, she was also a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence from British rule.
About the Poem
“The Bangle Sellers” is one of Sarojini Naidu’s most famous poems, reflecting her deep connection to Indian culture and traditions. Written in 1912 and published in her collection “The Bird of Time,” this poem beautifully describes the cultural significance of bangles in Indian society. The poem takes the form of a song or chant that might be heard at an Indian fair or marketplace, with bangle sellers describing their colorful wares. Through vivid imagery and rhythmic language, Naidu shows how different bangles represent various stages of a woman’s life—from maidenhood to marriage to middle age. The poem celebrates these transitions while honoring the traditional roles of women in Indian society. Rich in cultural details and sensory descriptions, “The Bangle Sellers” offers young readers a glimpse into Indian traditions while exploring universal themes of growth, change, and the marking of life’s important moments through symbolic objects.
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