Dejhoor (or Deji-Hor) is a dangling ear ornament worn by Kashmiri Pandits women, from the eve of their wedding onwards. [1]
The jewelry is placed in the cartilage piercing of the ear in a red thread and later the thread may be replaced with a gold chain known as an ath bought by her in-laws at their house. The thread or chain is about 8-12 inches. The bottom part athur, which will be of gold, gold /silver threads or pearls, is attached to the dejhoor. The ornament is not worn by Kashmiri Muslims [2] or those from any other Hindu community. [3]
It symbolises union between two Kashmiri Pandit families. The dejhoor ornament is always hexagonal and it symbolizes a yantra denoting Shiva and Shakti. [4] [5]
An interpretation of the term Dij is that it represents "dvija" and is thus the female counterpart of a yajnopavita in the Brahmin community.
Its function is similar to that of a mangal-sutra or sindoor in other regions of India. However a dejhoor is provided by the bride's family and worn even after the death of her husband.