In Tamil Nadu's Erode, Men Wear 2-kg Ghungroo To Perform Local Dance Salangai Attam

Every part of India is filled with different cultures and traditions. Every corner of the country has unique cultural art forms and one of them is Salangai Attam. The dance form which is performed by men is type of a game held around the towns in the Kongu region which includes the districts districts of Coimbatore, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Salem and Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu. During festivals, Salangai Attam is also performed around the local Mariyamman and Kaliyamman temple at night.

The music of Salangai Attam is played with instruments including tharai (ancient 12-feet trump), tappatti (drum), matthalam (dholak) and Pumpa (a flute-like instrument). The art form is named Salangai Attam because the players in the art form wear Salangas or Chilanka or Gungroo around their feet. In all the villages where Salangai Attam is performed, the game is performed by a group and even solo performances are there.

Each Chalangi (Ghungroo) looks like a large oyster made of bronze. These are connected to a leather strap which is worn by men around their feet which reaches just below the knees. The art form is performed in the temple premises. The men performing Salangai Attam wear the Salangas of around two kilograms in each leg. With the heavy weight on their feet, they synchronise with the group. The footwork wearing these ornaments is difficult but it is a delightful sight to watch them perform through the entire set as it creates a different atmosphere around the area.

Salangai Attam is performed during the Mariamman festival in the month of Karthik in Singhalanthapuram of Namakkal district. The art form is performed by a certain community, but in Erode district Salangai Attam is mostly performed by all communities. In the Dharampuri and Krishnagiri districts, the dance form plays an important role in all the temple festivals. Salangai Attam also plays a vital role in festivals like Murugan festival, Mariamman festival, Ur festival, Veerabhatirasamy festival of Kurumbar, Angalamman festival, Chariottam and Gundam festival.