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Percussion instrument | |
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Other names | Chimpta, musical fire tongs |
Classification | idiophone |
Related instruments | |
Dhol | |
Musicians | |
Alam Lohar, Arif Lohar, Kamal Heer |
Chimta (Punjabi: ਚਿਮਟਾ, Shahmukhī: چمٹا ) literally means tongs. Over time it has evolved into a traditional instrument of South Asia by the permanent addition of small brass jingles. This instrument is often used in popular Punjabi folk songs, Bhangra music and the Sikh religious music known as Gurbani Kirtan.
The player of the chimta is able to produce a chiming sound if he holds the joint of the instrument in one hand and strikes the two sides of the chimta together. The jingles are made of metal and thus it produces a metallic sound and helps to keep up the beat of the song.[1]
In Bhangra music or at weddings it is often combined with Dhol and Bhangra dancers.