Dhak (instrument)
Durga Puja Dhak Sample Sound
A 47 second sample of Dhak playing during Durga Puja.
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Bengal drummer and a dhaki

The dhak (Bengali: ঢাক) is a huge membranophone instrument from South Asia. The shapes differ from the almost cylindrical to the barrel. The manner of stretching the hide over the mouths and lacing also varies. It suspended from the neck, tied to the waist and kept on the lap or the ground, and usually played with wooden sticks. The left side is coated to give it a heavier sound. [1]

Drum beats are an integral part of Durga Puja.[2]

The Statesman wrote, “Durga Puja does not assume the festive aura without the maddening beats of the dhak, the large drum that men hang around their necks and play with two thin sticks to infuse the frenzied rhythm into listeners. Those enchanting beats are enough to conjure up the sights and smells of Durga Puja.” [3]

References

  1. ↑ "Instruments". Percussions. beatofindia.com. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  2. ↑ "Traditions of Durga Puja". Society for confluence of festivals in India. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  3. ↑ Bhattachatya, Kajari. "Beats of changing time". Kolkata Plus. The Statesman, 26 September 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
A dhaki with his magnificent dhak at a South Kolkata Durga Puja pandal, 2010.
Dhak players baazar.
Dhak players baazar.

See also