There are several items that serve as accessories with significance to the Ho tribe, which is a notable tribal community of India. The Ho have a rich cultural history and believe that everything in nature is a being worthy of honour, and these charms are used amongst their daily lives and rituals. The Brass Charm, in essence, is a simple object, but it has great significance; it is made of brass with a bunch of cotton threads tied to it to honour it as a protector and a messenger to the divine.
The brass charm is round and symbolizes the spirit of unity or wholeness. Although its outer look is quite simplistic, it carries a host of cultural meanings. The cotton thread with which the charm is strung not only serves the practical purpose of wearing the charm but is also an important symbolic gesture believed by many to endow protective qualities. Traditionally, the charm is worn around the neck as a personal form of protection or lucky charm from all that may harm the wearer.
These brass charms for the Ho are deeply embedded in their animistic beliefs and spiritual practices. Charms like these may be part of ritualistic offerings or may be worn to bless rites, marking occasions of tremendous cultural or life significance. The brass charm thus reflects the craftsmanship and the symbolic wealth of the Ho, epitomizing their ability to marry the worldly with the otherworldly.
Maintaining such a tradition sustains a bond with the Ho tribe's ancestors, culture, and beliefs while allowing them to be handed down by them to their younger generations.