The cattle bell for goats is a traditional and ingenious object of Maler tribal origin, or Mal Paharia as they are also called, an aboriginal community mainly inhabiting the Santhal Parganas region of Jharkhand. This small bell serves as an effective yet simple instrument to keep track of and locate goats while grazing and exemplifies the deep relationship of Maler with their animals and nature. Crafted out of a hollowed palm seed that acts as its resonating chamber, the natural hardness and contour of the seed are precise for mellowing out a peculiar sound while gently being struck. There is a close by wooden clapper hanging free at the center of the bell, which hits the inner walls upon movement of the animal. It is kept in place using a twisted piece of cotton thread, hinting at the tribe's use of locally available materials eco-friendly for their everyday use.
A bell tied around a goat's neck makes it easy for the herdsman to track the goat by the sound it produces while moving. The sound of the bell is of utmost importance to the herdsman for tracking the goat, especially in the hilly, forested terrains, where goats are commonly reared by the Maler people. The bell is easy on the neck and lightweight, thus ensuring the animal's comfort while the same is functional for the owner. Pastoralism and subsistence agriculture have been part of the Maler lifestyle for a long time, and this cattle bell speaks highly of their ingenuity and sustainable living. It shows their ingenuity to provide an object that can use natural materials that exert the minimum impact on the surroundings.