Jewish wedding crown

In some Jewish wedding traditions, brides or grooms wore a crown or diadem. This elaborate one from a Jewish community in India was probably for a groom. It speaks to the different cultural spheres its user belonged to. The Hebrew inscription “I will raise Jerusalem above my highest joy” (Psalm 137, 5–6) was recited by the groom in some traditions. This was meant as a reminder of past suffering—the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians more than 2,500 years ago—even at a moment of great happiness. The design of paired birds and the “tree of life” motif are elements often used to adorn Jewish ritual objects. Here they are localized: the crown recalls the form of an Indian turban, the “tree of life” calls to mind turban ornaments (sarpech), and the birds here are peacocks. Jewish communities have deep roots in India. In recent times many Indian Jews have emigrated to Israel and other parts of the world. It is thought that fewer than 10,000 Jews remain in India.