Passa Designs for Brides and Festive Looks
Passa jewellery is a fan-shaped head ornament worn on one side of the head, just above the ear, usually linked to the hair parting with fine chains – a statement piece of bridal head jewellery. Also spelled pasa jewellery and often called a jhoomar, it is a signature of Muslim, Hyderabadi, Punjabi and Rajasthani bridal looks – and today brides of every tradition wear it for a regal, asymmetric finish.
Shop passa for women in kundan, pearl, polki-look, jadau and American diamond styles, from heavy bridal pieces to small passa designs for guests and festive evenings. Every piece comes directly from the brand, so you can buy your passa online with confidence and match it to the rest of your bridal jewellery.
Passa Designs to Shop
- Kundan passa: layered kundan stones on a gold-plated base with pearl or bead fringes – the classic bridal passa jewellery choice. Match it with more kundan jewellery.
- Polki-look passa: polki-style stones with a vintage, Mughal feel – browse our polki jewellery to complete the set, or read polki vs kundan to choose between them.
- Pearl passa: cascading pearl strings for a soft, elegant look with pastel outfits.
- Golden passa: gold-tone kundan and jadau jewellery pieces, many with 18 carat gold plating; a gold plated passa suits red and maroon bridal wear.
- Jhoomar passa: the traditional half-moon jhoomar passa, with rows of hanging chains and drops, popular in Hyderabadi passa jewellery and Pakistani passa jewellery looks.
- Passa tikka: a passa joined by a chain to a maang tikka, so both sit perfectly in place.
- Small passa and minimal styles: a compact side passa with a single row of stones for guests, mehendi and festive wear.
- Passa jewellery set: a passa paired with a matching tikka and matha patti, or a passa maang tikka that comes as one piece.
How to Choose Passa Jewellery
Size and weight. Heavy passa jewellery makes a bold bridal statement but needs firm pinning; a lighter piece is easier to wear through a long day of functions.
Face shape and hairstyle. A wide fan suits oval and long faces, while a narrower, vertical passa design flatters round faces. Choose a side passa for side-parted hair and a fuller piece for a centre parting with a bun.
Finish and material. Most passas are gold plated brass or alloy – fashion jewellery, not real gold. Pick kundan or polki-look for traditional bridal wear, pearls for pastels and silver-tone American diamond for evening sparkle.
Matching. Repeat the stones of your nath, earrings and necklace, and choose a passa on the side opposite your nath if you wear a large one.
How to Wear Passa Jewellery
Part your hair, place the passa on the left side (traditional) or the right, just above the ear, and pin its hooks into a section of hair from behind. Then attach the connecting chain to your tikka or parting. Use two crossed bobby pins for each hook so the piece stays flat.
- With a bun: the easiest base – the passa rests above the ear and the chain runs to the parting.
- Passa with open hair: backcomb where the hooks sit and let soft waves hide them.
- With a dupatta or hijab: pin the passa over the fabric and secure it with hijab pins.
- With a matha patti: for the full bridal crown, combine it with a matha patti and add a sheesh phool at the back.
Passa for Weddings, Festivals and Occasions
A passa for bride looks is usually the largest piece, worn at the nikah, the wedding or the walima with a sharara, gharara or lehenga, alongside a haath phool and, for Punjabi brides, a kaleera. Bridal passa jewellery in kundan or polki-look is the most popular, while a pearl or small passa for wedding guests and bridesmaids keeps things elegant. A golden passa for Eid pairs beautifully with an anarkali, and side passa jewellery adds drama at sangeet and mehendi functions.
Care
Store the passa flat in its box so the fringes and chains do not tangle. Keep perfume, hairspray and water away from kundan and plated pieces, and wipe them gently after wear.
Shop Passa Jewellery by Brand
Discover passas from brands such as Voylla, Swan Jewels, Ruby Raang, Queens Jewels and VIANA Jewels.
Why Buy Passa Jewellery Online from Eternz?
Every piece comes directly from the brand, with free shipping on orders over ₹999, easy returns and hassle-free refunds. Same-day delivery is available in select cities – see our same day delivery page.
Explore More
For more ideas, read our guide to the latest Indian bridal jewellery trends.
Need Help?
For styling or gifting help, contact our support team at [email protected] or +91 6364923100 (10 AM to 7 PM).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is passa jewellery?
A passa is a fan-shaped head ornament worn on one side of the head, above the ear, usually linked to the parting or a maang tikka with chains. It is a key part of many Muslim, Hyderabadi and North Indian bridal looks.
2. Is it passa or pasa?
Both spellings are used for the same ornament. Pasa head jewellery is also widely called a jhoomar or jhumar.
3. What is passa called in English?
There is no exact English word; it is usually described as a side head ornament or side headpiece.
4. Which side is a passa worn on?
Traditionally it is worn on the left side of the head, but you can choose either side to suit your parting or hairstyle.
5. How do you wear a passa?
Pin the hooks into a section of hair above the ear with crossed bobby pins, then attach the chain to your tikka or parting. A bun gives the firmest base.
6. Can you wear a passa with open hair?
Yes. Backcomb lightly where the hooks sit, pin securely and let soft curls cover the pins.
7. What is the difference between a passa and a jhoomar?
In most of India the two names mean the same side ornament. Some people use jhoomar for the larger, multi-row bridal style and passa for any side piece.
8. Can I wear a passa with a maang tikka and matha patti?
Yes – many brides wear all three together. Keep the passa and matha patti in the same stones so the look stays balanced.
9. Is passa only for brides?
No. Bridesmaids, guests and women at Eid and festive functions wear smaller passas too, often a light side passa.