Bangle Sellers

Introduction: 

    The poem ‘The Bangle Sellers’ by Sarojini Naidu revolves around bangles and bangle sellers. It describes the different stages in the life of a woman. The speaker of the poem is speaking on the part of the bangle sellers. These bangle sellers are selling bangles at the temple fair. They call out to the people passing by and urge them to buy bangles for their daughters and wives. In the second, third, and fourth stanzas, they describe the bangles of different colors they have to match the woman of different age groups. 

The poem:

    In the first stanza, the bangle seller is seen carrying 'the shining loads' of bangles to the temple fair. He wonders that who will buy these bangles for 'happy daughters and happy wives?' Thus, it can be seen that bangles in Indian culture are associated with happiness.

    In the rest of the stanzas, the bangle seller goes on describing the colourful bangles meant for women belonging to differnet stages. According to the bangle seller:

1. Some bangles are meant for a maiden. These bangles are silver and blue like mountain mist.

2. Some bangles meant for a maiden are flushed like the buds, and some aglow like new born leaves.

3. Some bangles are meant for a bride. These bangles are like the fields of corn.

4. Some bangles  meant for a bride are like the flame of her marriage fire.

5. These bangles have the tinkling sound like the bridal laughter and bridal tear.

6. Some bangles are meant for  a middle age woman. These bangles are purple and gold with grey dots.

7. These bangles are for those women who are living happy married life with their children and husband.

        Thus, the poem presents three stages of a womanhood: a maiden, a bride and a married woman living happily. Here, bangles are not just ornaments; they symbolize joy, tradition, love, and social identity. Each colour of the bangles reflects a stage in a woman’s life.