The gold mango mala — manga malai in Tamil, the mango haram — links mango-shaped pieces into one long necklace. We make it in gold, plain or set with kundan and polki.
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Why the mango?
In South India the mango stands for love, fertility and plenty — so a necklace of mangoes belongs to a bride. The manga malai links mango shapes into a long haram that falls well below the bust, usually with an odd number of mangoes: nine, eleven, fifteen.
The same teardrop is what the West calls paisley — after the Scottish town that copied it from Kashmir shawls. In India it was the buta; in the South it stayed a mango.
Ask about a mango malaThree ways to make it
Plain, beaded or stone-set?
Plain gold
The mango shape shows best.
The lightest of the three.
Bead-edged
Tiny gold beads round each mango.
Catches the light without stones.
Stone-set
Rubies, emeralds — or kundan, the Jaipur way.
The most colour, and a Rajasthani face.
Choosing a mango mala
Where it falls
A haram is long. Decide where it should end — below the bust for a bridal look, higher for a lighter one — before the number of mangoes is fixed.
How many mangoes
More mangoes, more gold. An odd count is traditional; tell us what your family prefers.
A smooth back
Run a hand over the back of each mango. It should be closed and smooth, with nothing to pull a silk sari.
What is the difference between a manga malai and a kasu mala?
A manga malai is made of mango-shaped pieces; a kasu mala of gold coins, often stamped with Lakshmi. Both are long necklaces, and many brides wear one of each, the coins usually the shorter.
Can a mango mala have a pendant?
Yes — many end in a larger centre piece, sometimes a Lakshmi, drawn to the size and number of the mangoes so the whole haram balances.
When else is a mango haram worn?
It is a bridal piece first, worn at the wedding with the rest of the set, but a lighter one is worn at festivals and family functions for years after.
Can pearls be added between the mangoes?
Yes. Pearls or small gold beads between the mangoes lengthen the haram without adding much gold, and soften how it lies on the sari.