Paambadam is an earring worn by elderly women in South Indian States such as Tamil Nadu & Kerala. Designed in the shape of a snake hood, with two balls, two knobs, a square piece, and a tongue pieced together, the gold-coated earrings weigh about 50 g each. Paambadam in Tamil means the hood of the snake(paambin padam). The sheer weight of a paambadam enlarges the ear lobe, which has to be pierced with a special knife for gradual expression. Paambadam would be worn with one or two others of similar size and weight, pulling down and stretching the earlobe considerably. The remarkable semi-abstract design actually incorporates animal forms, showing the head of a snake. Currently, due to more modernisation, such earrings are not worn. See also Fashion in India References External links http://www.asianart.com/articles/ganguly/index.html Jewellery of India Tamil culture Culture of Kerala