Traditional Coorgi Jewellery: Kokkethathi

The traditional Coorg jewellery is one of the oldest jewellery pattern that is still seen in India. From olden times till date Kodavas are one community who have tried their level best to preserve their traditions and culture. Kodavas take pride in their culture and customs and believe in passing it on generations after generations. Though with the changing time you would notice the men folk do not wear their traditional dress very often but the female folks have kept the tradition on. However, in festivals and weddings you would find most of them in their tradtional attire. The same is with the traditional Kodava jewellery. In functions and weddings, the Kodava females adorn themselves with the beautiful traditional coorgi jewellery and silk sarees.

One such beautiful traditional Kodava jewellery is Kokkethathi. The typical design of a Kokkethati pendant set is shown in the image below:

 

What is Kokkethathi?

Kokkethathi is a traditional kodava pendant which is in a crescent shape. The upper portion of a Kokkethathi pendant from where it gets attached to the chain is in the shape of distended hood of a Serpant with pearl and rubies embedded on it. The serpant hood signifies fertility and prosperity in life. Followed by which are a few rubies embedded. Just below the sequence of rubies is engraved an image of a seated Goddess Lakshmi being showered upon by flowers by elephants from either of her sides. Goddess Lakshmi in Hinduism is the God of wealth and prosperity and is considered very auspicious. Lastly the rim of a traditional kokkethathi is fringed with small pearls which enhances the beauty of this traditional Kodava jewellery.

 

Kokkethathi pendant is made of gold and is hollow. It is filled with lac from inside. There a few designs available in it now but the basic concept would be same.

Kokkethathi is a mandatory Kodava jewellery that a Kodava bride or a newly wed Kodavathi is ought to have.

How to wear Kokkethathi?

Kokkethathi worn in a bead chain

One can wear Kokkethathi both ways, either as a standalone pendant or as a set with matching Kokkethathi ear rings.

 

When buying, the Kokkethathi pendant will come as a separate piece without any chain attached to it. One is suppose to buy the chain separately. Kokkethathi pendant is not worn with any specific type of chains. So one can put it in any chain. Mostly, the chain is kept long about 26 inches to show it off to advantage.

Though there is no particular design for the chain but many of the Kodavathis wear it in bead chains. The beads of which again differ in pattern. It can however be worn with flat or rope chains also.

How to and from where to buy a Kokkethathi pendant set?

You can buy Kokkethathi from any gold jewellery shops in Coorg. It is also available at selected jewellery stores in Mysore and Bangalore like Malabar Gold, Bhimas and others. As of now it is not available online.

Now a days jewellers are coming up with many modern adaptations of Kokkethathi but if you are intended on buying traditional Kodava jewellery, you should only purchase the typical traditional design. It is an evergreen design and is far beautiful than the modern adaptations.