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Chimpta (Chimta)

(Musical Fire Tongs)

by David Courtney working tools

Chimpta, In­dian mus­ical fire tongs
Chimpta

The chimpta is ac­tually a fire tong.  How­ever, it has evolved into a mus­ical instrument by the permanent addition of small brass jingles.  This instrument is es­pec­ially pop­ular in Punjabi folk music and the Sikh re­li­gious music known as shabad.

jingles in the Chimpta
The jingles

The chimpta has forks which are made of steel. Today, almost every Indian kitchen has smaller versions of chimptas, often made of aluminium. But the constant bending and flexing of the musical chimpta requires the strength and springiness of steel.

There is a steel ring that is affixed to the handle. The original purpose of this ring was simply to allow the chimpta to be hung on a wall when not in use. But today the ring is an integral part of the technique of the instrument.

Chimpta, end
Handle side of chimpta showing the ring and metal band

There is a small steel band toward the handle side of the instrument. This band holds the the two tongs together when not in use, but releases the tongs when the chimpta is to be played.

Chimpta, In­dian mus­ical fire tongs in open position
Chimpta (open position)

The majority of musical chimptas have a line of metal rods on each side which hold a series of brass jingles. These are often joined by forging rather than welding or brazing.

the attachement of the rods.
The attachment of the rods.

Picture Gallery

High Resolution pictures

Chimpta, In­dian mus­ical fire tongs
Chimpta
Chimpta, In­dian mus­ical fire tongs
Jingle
Chimpta, end with ring
End with ring and band

Selected Video


Other Sites of Interest

India : North Indian folk music

Indian folk music

Indian Folk-Music