An important component in tribal jewellery from India, anklets stood for cultural identity and aesthetic expression. A wonderful pair of casted oval metal anklets in the National Museum of New Delhi is traditionally worn by the Gong community. Rattling balls inlaid inside provide a distinct feature, as the anklets produce a sound as the wearer walks.
The Gond tribe, who form the largest native community across India, are not only well-known for their traditions of making ornaments but also are known for clanking of metal anklets, which ornament the legs of women in the Gond community during festivals, dance, and rituals. Such anklets have also been seen as not merely adornments but have their own place in the ritualistic and symbolic sense.The belief is that the rattling sound made by the anklets wards off evil spirits and adds rhythm to traditional dance performances. Such artifacts signify anthropological studies on tribal adornments and their significance for the indigenous society. Preserving these anklets at the National Museum, New Delhi, will be one more reminder of the legacy of tribal craftsmanship still existing in India today.