Thandatti are traditional earrings from Southern India; worn only by women of the Velalar Nadar class found in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In this region, stick-like pieces of sandalwood were traditionally used to stretch ear lobes; the term thandatti is derived from this practice. The thandatti are made from sheet gold hammered over a lac core. Hence, they are impressive in size but light weight. The centre of production for thandatti is Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
