Silambu (Tamil:சிலம்பு;Malayalam:ചിലമ്പ്/cil’əmpɨ̆/), orGaggara (Tulu: ಗಗ್ಗರ), is ananklet worn and used in a variety of contexts on the Indian subcontinent.
According to Jeyaraj, the word 'silambu' is derived from the verb 'silambal', meaning 'to make sound'.[1]
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 termedkālchilambu 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]
Nautch performers wore silambu.[2]Kandyan dancers may wear silambu.[4]
Shiva in his dancing posenataraja sometimes wears a silambu on his ankle.[citation needed]
The epicSilappatikaram is structured around the character Kannaki's attempt to sell her silambu, and takes its title from the name of the anklet.[6][7]
Silambu are sometimes placed on cows' legs during thePongal festival.[8] In Tamil Nadu, a traditional dance calledkai 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 theTheyyam ofMalabar region and theButa Kola ofTulu Nadu region.
