A thousand grains of silver.
Each one cast by hand.
Each one carrying the spirit of prosperity. ✨The Dhaan Sarson Mala is an ode to Odisha’s timeless artistry
where rice and mustard beads become symbols of abundance.
A rare heirloom, crafted for the true collector of culture and beauty. 🌾
In India’s tribal traditions, jewellery is never just adornment. It is belief made tangible, ritual shaped in metal, and memory carried across generations. Among these rare and meaningful forms of silver jewellery, the Dhaan Sarson Mala stands out as a quiet yet powerful expression of abundance, craftsmanship, and ancestral wisdom.
Rooted in the tribal traditions of Odisha, this extraordinary neckpiece is not made to follow trends. It is made to endure.
The Meaning of Dhaan and Sarson
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The term Dhaan Sarson translates to rice (dhaan) and mustard (sarson)—two grains that hold immense significance in agrarian and tribal cultures across India. Symbols of prosperity, fertility, and sustenance, they represent continuity rather than excess.
For the indigenous tribal community of Odisha, rice and mustard are not merely crops. They are sacred markers of life, nourishment, and well-being. Reimagined in silver, these forms come together to create a mala that carries centuries of agrarian wisdom and spiritual belief.
Worn close to the body, the Dhaan Sarson Mala becomes both ornament and talisman—each tiny bead echoing ancestral faith in abundance and balance.
A Labour of Patience: Lost-Wax Craftsmanship from Odisha
What makes the Dhaan Sarson Mala truly exceptional is not only its meaning, but the process of its making.
Each rice- and mustard-shaped bead is individually cast using the ancient lost-wax technique—a painstaking method that allows no shortcuts. Every bead begins as a wax form, moulded by hand, encased in clay, fired, and then cast in silver. Once released from the mould, each piece is carefully finished by hand.
Hundreds of these beads are strung together to create a neckpiece that is intricate yet bold, delicate yet enduring. The hours of patience, quiet repetition, and mastery required are visible in every strand.
This is craftsmanship that cannot be rushed.
It must be lived through.
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More Than a Jewel: Cultural Artistry in Silver
Beyond its striking visual appeal, the Dhaan Sarson Mala stands as a testament to Odisha’s silversmithing legacy—where devotion to detail and artisanal mastery converge. Historically, such pieces were worn during ceremonies, rituals, and significant moments, marking transitions and invoking blessings of abundance.
To own such a piece today is to become a custodian of living heritage. It is jewellery that carries stories—of land, grain, seasons, and communities that have safeguarded their craft across generations.
This is why such pieces are increasingly considered collector’s items—rare, meaningful, and difficult to replicate in a world driven by speed and uniformity. Jewellery that carries weight, both literally and symbolically.
Origin: Odisha, India
Material: Silver
Technique: Lost-wax casting
Period: 19-20th century (traditional form)
Collection: Aham Jewellery
The Dhaan Sarson Mala at Aham Jewellery
At Aham Jewellery, we are drawn to pieces that speak softly yet profoundly. Our Dhaan Sarson Mala is sourced from a master collector in Odisha, honouring traditional techniques without dilution.
Crafted entirely in silver, the mala retains its tribal soul while seamlessly finding a place in contemporary wardrobes—worn with handloom saris, layered over textiles, or styled as a statement heirloom piece.
This is not jewellery that comes by often.
It is a once-in-a-while find—crafted for the true collector of culture and beauty.
An Heirloom to Be Collected and Passed On
In a world that moves quickly, the Dhaan Sarson Mala reminds us of another rhythm—one of patience, intention, and reverence for craft.
It is not just a necklace.
It is prosperity cast in silver.
A thousand grains, strung with meaning.
A timeless piece meant not only to be worn, but to be preserved and passed on.
Collector’s Note
The Dhaan Sarson Mala is a form we have rarely encountered in contemporary craft practice. In all our years of working closely with karigars across India, collecting vintage jewellery references, studying archival books, and visiting museums, this is a piece we have seldom seen being made today.
Each neckpiece requires hundreds of individually hand-cast beads, created using the ancient lost-wax technique—a process that demands exceptional skill, patience, and time. Such pieces are exceedingly rare.
In fact, the only documented references we encountered was in The New Silver & Gold from the Amrapali Collection, written by Usha R. Balakrishnan—underscoring the rarity and cultural significance of this form.
For collectors, the Dhaan Sarson Mala represents more than aesthetic value. It is a tangible fragment of living heritage. Its worth lies not just in silver, but in the hours, traditions, and belief systems it embodies.
This is jewellery to be collected with intention, worn with reverence, and preserved as an heirloom for generations to come.
If you wish to make history a part of your treasure, please message us at 8884445300