Bhangra Props

In Bhangra, a majority of the dance is done without any sort of prop, mostly done with motions of your body, legs, head and hand. But in most cases, props are used to keep the dances flowing and they add something special to the dances themselves. They keep audience engaged with the dancers and provide a "next level" entertainment with the exciting energy and sounds.

First is the "Saap." It is a wooden prop used to make a "clapping" sound. It takes a great deal of energy using one while performing because of the constant arm movement as the saap is "clapped" together. By stretching and contracting the ends, the player produces a sound resembling many hands clapping in unison. It is made of wooden sticks about a foot long and an inch wide. Fourteen to 20 such sticks are joined in a lattice-fashion so that the total length is usually about one or two feet. It may be painted or left in the natural color of the wood; it is often decorated with tassels, pom-poms and even places of brightly colored paper stuck in cut-out patterns. 

Next is the "Khunda." Doesn't make any sounds but it does make a vivid appearance of it's own. It is a long wooden stick with a curved portion at the very end. It is used a prop in dances and helps keep the dance flowing. It is usually decorated in color, gold rings, and may have various carvings and curvatures embedded within the wood. 

The Ghalar, also known as the Kato, is used in Bhangra dance as well. The kato is considered as a percussion instrument by some due to the clapping sound it produces when the rope is tugged, but it is most widely used as a dance prop. Each kanto is composed of a rope as well as a top "clamp and hinge". It measures about 30 inches in height.