A Ghungroo (Urdu: گھنگرو), ( Hindi:घुँघरू ), also known as Ghunghroo or Ghunghru or Ghungur (Bengali) or Salangai (Tamil) is one of many small metallic bells strung together to form Ghungroos, a musical anklet tied to the feet of classical Indian dancers, and also Pakistani dancers. The sounds produced by Ghungroos vary greatly in pitch depending on their metallic composition and size. Ghungroos serve to accentuate the rhythmic aspects of the dance and allow complex footwork to be heard by the audience. They are worn immediately above the ankle, resting on the lateral malleolus and medial malleolus. A string of ghungroos can range from 50 to greater than 200 bells knotted together. A novice child dancer may start with 50 and slowly add more as he or she grows older and advances in his or her technical ability. Ghungroos or Salangais are worn in traditional performances of the classical Indian dance forms: Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, and Odissi etc.
Dancers use Ankle bells while performing all kinds of asian dances. Especially belly dancers and Indian Classical dancers use ankle bells for all their performances. These bells are made by attaching ghungroos (metal bells) to leather or cloth pads.
Ankle bells are known in different names in different parts of India. In Tamilnadu, it is known as Salangai and in Kerala people call it Chilanka. In north India it is commonly called as Ghungroo. Depending upon the age of the dancer and the size of ankles, one can choose the size of the ankle bell. Usually adults prefer a 5 line or 4 line ankle bell. For teenagers and small kids, parents can choose anything between a two line and four line.
