Uttarakhand is rich in traditional heritage. The cultures and heritage people follow here are much high than in any other state. Apart from folk traditional songs and dances and clothes, even Jewellery is traditional in the state and often worn during festivals and programs.
A bulaq or bulaki is a traditional item that is a part of the traditional attire of the Pahadis in Uttarakhand, India.
Bulak is a kind of nose ring, which women wear at the nasal septum. It is usually carried by married women and is generally made up of 10-12 grams of pure gold.
The average size of a bulak can be 4–5 cm along with a hook-like end of the bulak so that it can be carried easily. The below part of a bulak has a deep carving on it, and the pearls are in a conical shape giving it an elegant and different look. The hook at which the bulaq is put resembles the inverted ‘U’ of the Roman language.
Years ago, it was worn by the women of Garhwal, Kumaon, and of Jaunsar region in Uttarakhand. But nowadays the trend for bulak is vanishing and considers an old fashion by the new generation. Apart from being carried by women in Uttarakhand, it is also worn in Himachal Pradesh, in Nepal, and in Bihar.
Apart from vanishing and losing the essence of Bulak in Uttarakhand, women are still seen wearing it occasionally in a few regions of Uttarakhand. In remote areas of Uttarakhand, it’s still worn by women on a daily basis.
Bulak nose ring has a different name in different regions like in Nepal; it is called bulaki. In Garhwal it’s bulak and in Kumaon it’s Besar.