In Indian dance, so-called Ghungroos are worn, mostly around the ankles, in order to intensify acoustically the rhythmic movements of the feet. They are not considered as embellishment but as  a percussion instrument. The more bells and the better the quality of the bells, the more their sound will emphasise the rhythmic part of Kathak and Bharatnatyam. As they hardly resonate, they represent precisely the rhythmic movements of the dancing feet. Ghungroos consist of a differing number of little bells made of bronze or brass.

TARANG has been running a school for Kathak and Bharatnatyam since 1988 where Indian maestros give lessons. In coordination with the dancers from India, we carry in our product range exclusively professional Ghungroos with bells of the best quality (size 11) regarding long-life cycle and optimal percussion sound. Also the standard of craftsmanship is professional. This applies primarily to the use of a good string and the lasting knotting together of the bells in a technique that prevents elongation and loosening of the Ghungroos later during the dancing. Of course, it is also important to attach the Ghungroos in the right way. You will find information on the correct application of the Ghungroos on Instruction.

The Indian dance Kathak in particular, is with its large rhythmic part a type of dance that is characterised by an especially expressive footwork which should be clearly heard. For this reason a pair of Ghungroos with 100 bells each per foot is a must for a performance. But this pair is also recommended for practising since the weight makes the legs heavier and contributes to developing the typical clapping sound of the flat feet on the ground more quickly. The sound of the Ghungroos together with the clapping of the feet on the dance floor, that is so typical for Kathak, produces a convincing sound. The size 2 x 50 bells is more intended for children.

As every Kathak student knows, it is not easy to achieve the typical clapping sound of the flat soles of the feet on the dance floor. This often takes years of regular practice. During this time the students must learn to thud firmly on the floor with their feet. Later they will be able to achieve this clapping sound easily with much less effort but that requires a lot of practice. In India, Kathak dancers often weigh their feet down with 200 Ghungroos in order to support the development of this clapping of the soles of the feet. This is why we also offer Ghungroos with 200 bells each which are only intended for this purpose.