OH NOOOOOO!!! Not the belly dancing sword thing again
What memories does this bring,
Rhys Michael, if memory serves from research some time ago, the word is suggested to possibly derive from the Portuguese 'castao' which I belive is correct, referring to a decorated walking stick. I'll have to check more in notes, and I think Fernando may have qualified or corrected that term.
In any case, this decorative swordlike item really has nothing to do with the true kastane from Sinhala, which is in no way associated with the 'belly dancing' performance. It seems other theatrical interpretations of swords used in these performances simulate loosely shamshirs to fantasy scimitars as well, and who can forget that 'Prince' video "Seven" !!
Uh, colorful thread though!!
All the best,
Jim