Paambadam

Paambadam or Thandatti is a traditional earring worn by elderly women in the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The ornament is designed in the shape of a snake’s hood and typically features two balls, two knobs, a square piece, and a tongue joined together. Traditionally gold-coated, each earring weighs around 50 g.
In Tamil, Paambadam means "hood of the snake". The weight of the ornament gradually enlarges the ear lobe, which must first be pierced with a special knife. Women would often wear one or more such earrings of similar size, stretching the earlobe considerably. The semi-abstract design incorporates animal imagery, with the snake’s head clearly represented.
With modernization and changing fashion trends, the use of Paambadam has largely declined, and it is now rarely worn.