Kinkini or the Dance bells or Ghoonroo

Kinkini is the anklet bells a bharatanatyam dancer wears while dancing. The dancer should reverently touch her forehead and eyes with them before she wears it for the dance performance as an offering of respect. The features of the Kinkini is described in Abhinaya Darpana and it is recited as a prayer by the dancer.

“Suswarascha Suroopascha Sookshma Nakshatra Devathaha

Kinkinya Kaamsyarachitha Ekaikaangulikaantharam

Bhandiyaaneelasoothrena Granthibischa Dridampunaha

Shathadwayam Shathamvaapi Paadayornaatyachaarini“

The above verse describes the anklet bells as well shaped (Suroopa), that gives a pleasant sound (Suswara), small bells (Sookshma) made of bronze fixed at finger distance (Ekaikaangulikaantharam) apart each other with the signs of presiding star deities (Nakshatra devathaha) with 100 bells on the right anklet and 100/200 bells in the left anklet and tied together properly with an indigo(blue) string worn by the dancer on her legs.

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