Mali, which is a traditional necklace worn by the people of Gadaba tribe. One of the major indigenous communities that are widely known to live in hilly areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. This beautiful necklace has eighteen saffron-beaded strands, collected and designed nicely, and forms a neckpiece which is very bold and eye-catching. The color is quite fascinating, and the rows of beads are arranged in very complicated forms symbolizing identity and pride of the culture for the community. Rich traditions of clothing, ornaments, and dance are inherited by the Gadabas.
Women of the tribe don the Mali on grand occasions, festivals, and ceremonial events such as marriages or harvest festivities. The ornament serves as not merely jewellery but also a status symbol concerning social and marital identity and affiliation with a tribe. It is usually constructed using natural- or dyed-seeds, glass beads, or clay beads. According to Gadaba beliefs, the saffron hue of the Mali may mean strength, wealth, and vibrant spirit. The tribe comprises an ethnic group related to the Mundas, and has its distinct language, cultural practices, and traditional weaving. They were in harmony with nature and their environment. Their ornaments, such as the Mali, reflect a good understanding of colors, forms, and symbols as defined in the context of their ecology. Ornaments like the Mali remain treasured possessions in the heritage of the Gadaba people-a symbol of identity and continuity of culture, handed down from generation to generation. Even modernization has affected most tribal lifestyles, and ornaments like these are still symbols of identity and cultural continuity.