Maharashtrian jewellery: nath, kolhapuri saaj and tanmani
Maharashtrian jewellery is recognisable from across the room: the nath draped from the left nostril, the kolhapuri saaj hugging the throat in rows, and the tanmani pendant at the centre of the neckline. Paired with a paithani or nauvari saree, the set reads instantly as festive.
The nath is the signature piece. Traditional designs range from a simple gold ring to a pear-shaped piece with pearls and small stones. If a full traditional nath feels heavy, lighter gold-plated versions keep the look without the strain of a long evening.
The kolhapuri saaj and tanmani
The saaj is a choker made of multiple parallel rows that widen slightly toward the centre. The tanmani is the small pendant piece at the front. Together they fill the neckline of a saree blouse perfectly - which is why a saaj-style choker works even when the blouse is heavily embroidered.
Festive styling beyond the wedding
You do not need to be a bride to wear Maharashtrian jewellery. A tanmani pendant over a plain cotton or silk saree lifts a Diwali lunch or a family function instantly. Gold-plated options keep the whole set light and easy to store, and they pair well with our short necklace and pendant styles.
Browse our necklace collection for saaj-inspired layering, or WhatsApp us your saree colour for a festive match.
What jewellery does a Maharashtrian bride wear?
The core set is a nath (nose ring), a kolhapuri saaj or thushi at the throat, a longer necklace such as a chinchpeti or putli haar, green glass bangles with gold patlya, and toe rings. The green bangles and the nath are the two pieces that mark the look as Maharashtrian from across a room.
What is the difference between a thushi and a saaj?
Both are chokers, but they are built differently. A thushi is made of tightly packed gold beads strung close together, so it reads as a dense, textured band with no separate pendants. A kolhapuri saaj is a necklace of many small pendants — traditionally twenty-one — each with its own meaning, strung along a chain. The thushi is about texture; the saaj is about the individual charms.
Which side is the nath worn on?
The left nostril, traditionally. A Maharashtrian nath is shaped like a cashew or a teardrop and is usually studded with pearls and a small stone at the centre. If the nose is not pierced, clip-on and press-fit versions exist — they are common for brides who want the look for the ceremony without a piercing.
What is a putli haar?
A long necklace of gold coins, historically carrying an image of a deity or a ruler on each coin. It is worn below the thushi or saaj so the two sit at different heights. The coin necklace is also one of the pieces most often passed down, so a bride frequently wears a family putli with new pieces around it.
How do you wear Maharashtrian jewellery with a nauvari saree?
The nauvari — the nine-yard saree draped between the legs — leaves the neck and shoulders clear, which is exactly why the chokers are so prominent in this tradition: there is no heavy pallu competing at the neckline. Wear the thushi or saaj high, the long necklace below it, and keep earrings simple — kudi studs or small jhumkas — so the nath is the focal point of the face.
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Keep reading
- Jhumka styles across India
- Choker, collar or haram: the length guide
- Bengali bridal jewellery: champakali, tikli and the jhumka
- The Indian bridal jewellery guide
- How to style temple jewellery beyond the wedding