Ghungroo: India musical instrument

A ghungroo is one of many small metallic bells slung together to form a ghungroo. It is a musical anklet knotted to the feet of classical Indian dancers, as well as Pakistani dancers. The sounds manufactured by this musical instrument differ greatly in pitch depending on their metallic make up and size.

source of picture: kksongs.org

 The instrument functions to accentuate the rhythmic part of then dance and permits complex footwork to be heard by the audience. The musical instruments are worn above the ankle of the player, resting on the sideways malleolus and medial malleolus. A string of the musical instrument can range from about 50 to greater than 200 bells tied together. A novice child dancer may start with the version that has 50 bells and gradually add more as he or she advances in the dances and technical abilities.

The ghungroo Vedan developed by V. Anuradha Singh, e prominent Indian classical Kathak proponent. She fabricated bells as a major musical instrument and plays in much pure music festival where dance is not permitted. The musical instrument is the only foot percussive fine art and it requires great dexterity, superb control, stamina, physical strength and classical knowledge. For the first time in history, V. Anuradha Singh take along to the stage her innovative pattern of solo classical foot bell concert that emphasis solely on the foot percussion art.