Silambu
Silambu (Tamil: சிலம்பு; Malayalam: ചിലമ്പ് /cil’əmpɨ̆/), or Gaggara (Tulu: ಗಗ್ಗರ), is an anklet worn and used in a variety of contexts on the Indian subcontinent.
Etymology
[edit | edit source]According to Jeyaraj, the word 'silambu' is derived from the verb 'silambal', meaning 'to make sound'.[1]
Description
[edit | edit source]The silambu is a hollow anklet filled with beads that produce noise when the wearer moves or dances.[2] It may be worn on the ankle or the leg. When worn on the leg, it is termed kālchilambu in Tamil.[3]
Some varieties of silambu are made of copper and use iron balls to produce sound.[4] Others are made of silver.[5]
Importance
[edit | edit source]In dance
[edit | edit source]Nautch performers wore silambu.[2] Kandyan dancers may wear silambu.[4]
In art and literature
[edit | edit source]Shiva in his dancing pose nataraja sometimes wears a silambu on his ankle.[citation needed]
The epic Silappatikaram is structured around the character Kannaki's attempt to sell her silambu, and takes its title from the name of the anklet.[6][7]
In religion and rituals
[edit | edit source]Silambu are sometimes placed on cows' legs during the Pongal festival.[8] In Tamil Nadu, a traditional dance called kai silambu aatam is performed in temples during Amman festivals in which the dancers wear or hold silambus in their hands, which make noise when shaken.[citation needed]
Silambu is also used in ritual dance performances of southern India, such as the Theyyam of Malabar region and the Buta Kola of Tulu Nadu region.
See also
[edit | edit source]Notes
[edit | edit source]- ^ Jeyaraj 1999, p. 39.
- ^ a b Sambamoorthy 1976, p. 6.
- ^ Sambamoorthy 1976, p. 23.
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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- ^ Sambamoorthy 1976, p. 24.
Sources
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