Have you ever visited God’s Own Country?

Well, the rich heritage of Kerala, the scenic views and the culture attract people from all across the world and this is why, Kerala is always flooded with a lot of tourists.

But apart from everything else, Kerala is also known for its traditional South Indian jewellery and here is a list of some of the most popular traditional Kerala ornaments that attract women from all over the world:

Manga Mala

This is a popular necklace that features mango-shaped beads made up of gold and strung together in a traditional pattern. Manga mala is known by many other names and is a popular ornament for brides and other women on special occasions. Nowadays, it contains many other intricate patterns as well.

Mullamottu Mala

This is one of the traditional and classic ornaments from Kerala. It refers to a necklace that is made up of gold beads and it may contain a cluster of jasmine flower motifs. Mullamottu mala is worn by brides and other women on auspicious occasions and is considered a symbol of prosperity.

Poothali

Earrings with peacocks are a common thing, right? Well, the idea of these might have been derived from Poothali which is a delicate but intricate kind of gold earring from Kerala. It features a peacock or a bird as a motif and is considered an essential part of Kerala’s bridal jewellery.

Palakka Mala

This is a unique necklace from Kerala that offers an impression of flowers among leaves. It has green enamel work and you will find red stones amidst them. Palakka Mala has a unique appearance and can contain precious stones as well.

Nagapada Thali

Have you seen a pendant shaped like a cobra’s hood? This is what nagapada thali actually means. It’s part of a necklace or chain and contains intricate designs that are adorned with colourful stones. Nagapada thali is usually worn by married women.

Elakkathali

This is a kind of choker necklace that also contains an ornate pendant. It features intricate designs which get their inspiration from nature and mythology.

Kolusu

Doesn’t this word sounds a bit musical? Well, this is a kind of anklet worn by women of Kerala and produces melodious sounds when women move their feet. It is usually made up of silver and can occur in various designs, patterns and shapes.

Oddiyanam and Kammarpatta

Oddiyanam is a kind of waistbelt worn by brides and it is considered an integral part of their jewellery. It is usually made up of gold and can be studded with some precious and semi-precious stones. Even Kammarpatta is a kind of waistbelt that is worn by women during festivals and special occasions. Kammarpatta can be made up of motifs containing flowers, peacocks and leaves etc.

Kasu Mala

Kasu mala is actually popular all across Southern India. It’s a kind of necklace made up of gold coins that are strung together in an intricate manner. These days, Kasu Mala can be obtained in lots of distinct designs with a modern twist, but they are actually a kind of traditional jewellery that is women by women during weddings, festivals and other auspicious occasions. 

These are some of the most popular traditional jewellery products from Kerala and you can see a wide variety of them in the state during festivals and special occasions.

Most of these are very popular among brides and are quite costly as well. However, the arrival of cheaper alternatives and imitation jewellery has lessened the cost of these products and made them popular across the globe.

Which one of these traditional jewellery products from Kerala did you find the most interesting?