The Silver Lining
Traditional Jharkhand silver jewellery graces the shop displays at Dariba Kalan.
Walking through one of the oldest lanes in the city, one does lose track of time. Standing in the midst of the gali one cannot ignore the rickshaws and cyclists paving their way through congested by lane with shouts of ‘jagah dena’ and ‘haan ji’ when they want pedestrians to make way for them. Dariba Kalan is known for marcasite studded in silver, gold, kundan, polki and diamond jewellery. It is said that the princess living during the reign of Shah Jahan often purchased gems from Dariba. As i walk deeper into the lanes of this market, i see hidden shops in corners, next to worn out doors that date 400 years back or so. This place has so much history, its mesmerizing.
Jharkhand is a state where silver jewellery is considered auspicious and used for wedding gifts, religious ceremonies and more. Mainly the silver jewellery has motifs of berries, leaves and flowers. Women also wear a kardhani, for the waist and chudha(bangles) for the wrists. Tikuli is attractive work on superior glass finished with wafer-thin tabaque (gold or silver leaves) and worn by women on their foreheads. The silver jewellery copies the kundan work and the lynching jhumkis (long or hanging ear rings) are fragile in look.
Almost every shop at Dariba is at least 200 years old and is considered the hub of jewels, ornaments and mementos. “Our shop was established in 1752. It’s been more than 250 years. I belong to the eighth generation of this legacy,” says Tarun Gupta, President of Dariba Kalan market. 45-year-old Mahesh, owner of a jewellery shop “We offer quality products at minimum rates. So, the brands can’t make a dent in our established businesses”
All the jewellery is hand-made. Jharkhand silver jewellery sold in this market is bought from Tharpakhna, Dhanbad etc. They also have really fancy packaging and they help you make up your mind if you’re unsure about what to buy. If you’re into silver jewellery or need a gift for a special occasion, head to Dariba not the for the jewellery but also for the experience and the old Delhi charm.
Price : Rs 1000 onwards , Rings at Rs 450 onwards
Location : 1731, Dariba Kalan
Contact: 011 23273839, +91 9810564342
Nearest Metro station : Chandni Chowk
Contributed by : Jasleen Kaur
