On which part of body ‘Toti’ ornament is worn?

Correct — option (4), Ears.

The toti is an ear ornament. The Rajasthani–Hindi Shabd Kosh edited by Badriprasad Sakariya and Bhupatiram Sakariya defines टोटी as an ornament worn in women's ears.

The same dictionary builds other ear ornaments on it. It describes the toti-jhumar as a toti with a pendant of small bells (ghungroo), and the durgalo as a toti with a canopy and small bells.

An older English source agrees. T. N. Mukharji's Art-Manufactures of India (1888) describes a large ear-ring inlaid with precious stones, called toti, worn by Rajput ladies; that piece came from Bhavnagar State.

The toti is worn in the ears, option (4), Ears.

The idea to remember: toti = an ear ornament; nath, kanta and long are nose ornaments.

Why the others are wrong

• (1)
  Nose — The toti is not a nose ornament. The Sakariya dictionary defines it as an ornament of women's ears.

  The Churu District Gazetteer (1970), describing women's ornaments in that district, names kanta, phoolraj, nath and long as the ornaments of the nose. The Sakariya dictionary also glosses the nakphuli as an ornament worn in a woman's nose.

• (2)
  Hand — The toti is not worn on the hand. The Sakariya dictionary defines it as an ornament of women's ears.

  For the hands, the Churu District Gazetteer (1970) says choora is worn, with or without gold pattis, along with pieces such as the bajuband. The Sakariya dictionary glosses the gajro as an ornament worn on the hand.

• (3)
  Waist — The toti is not a waist ornament. The Sakariya dictionary defines it as an ornament of women's ears.

  For the waist, the Churu District Gazetteer (1970) says a chain called kanakti is worn round the waist. On the ankles and feet it lists kadla, nevri and payal.

Accounts of Rajasthani ornaments list them by the part of the body they adorn. The Rajasthani–Hindi Shabd Kosh of Badriprasad and Bhupatiram Sakariya defines the toti as an ornament of women's ears.

The dictionary also lists ear ornaments built on the toti. The toti-jhumar adds a pendant of small bells, and the durgalo is a toti with a canopy and small bells.

The Churu District Gazetteer (1970) describes women's ornaments in that district part by part. Khuraba, jhumars and damni are worn in the ears; kanta, phoolraj, nath and long in the nose; choora on the hands; and a chain called kanakti round the waist.

Names differ from one district's account to another. The Ajmer District Gazetteer (1966) names bedla, dugla, jhumars and damni for the ears, and kanta, phoolari, booli, nath and phini for the nose.

Key facts

• The Rajasthani–Hindi Shabd Kosh (Badriprasad and Bhupatiram Sakariya) defines the toti as an ornament worn in women's ears.
• The same dictionary describes the toti-jhumar as an ear ornament: a toti with a pendant of small bells.
• Churu District Gazetteer (1970): khuraba, jhumars and damni are worn in the ears; kanta, phoolraj, nath and long in the nose.
• Churu District Gazetteer (1970): choora is worn on the hands and a chain called kanakti round the waist.
• T. N. Mukharji (1888) describes a large ear-ring inlaid with precious stones, the toti, worn by Rajput ladies, in jewellery from Bhavnagar State.

Common traps

• Placing the toti in the nose along with the nath and long. The Sakariya dictionary defines it as an ornament of women's ears.
• Taking the toti-jhumar or the durgalo for ornaments of some other part of the body. The dictionary describes both as ear ornaments built on the toti.
• Treating one district's list as the list for all of Rajasthan. The Churu (1970) and Ajmer (1966) gazetteers give different names for ear and nose ornaments.

UnlockIAS compared this question with questions from other RAS Prelims papers and found none similar enough to link.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  According to the Churu District Gazetteer (1970), the chain called 'kanakti' is worn —

  • (a)Round the neck
  • (b)Round the waist
  • (c)On the ankles
  • (d)On the forehead
  Answer(2) — The Churu District Gazetteer says a chain called kanakti is worn round the waist. For the neck (1) it lists hasli, kanthi, tussi, timania and dora; for the ankles and feet (3) kadla, nevri and payal. The forehead (4) is not where it places the kanakti.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  Which one of the following is worn in the ears, according to the Churu District Gazetteer (1970)?

  • (a)Nath
  • (b)Long
  • (c)Jhumar
  • (d)Choora
  Answer(3) — The gazetteer lists khuraba, jhumars and damni as worn in the ears. Nath (1) and long (2) are among the ornaments of the nose it names, and choora (4) is worn on the hands.