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| Classification | Membranophone |
|---|---|
| Related instruments | |
| Dholki | |
| More articles or information | |
| Garba,Bhangra,Music of Punjab,Bihu Dance | |
Dhol (Hindi pronunciation:[ɖʰoːl]) can refer to any one of a number of similar types of double-headeddrum widely used, with regional variations, throughout theIndian subcontinent. Its range of distribution inIndian subcontinent primarily includes northern areas such as theJammu,Himachal,Punjab,Haryana,Delhi,Kashmir,Sindh,Assam Valley,Uttarakhand,West Bengal,Odisha,Gujarat,Maharashtra,Konkan,Goa,Karnataka,Rajasthan,Bihar,Jharkhand andUttar Pradesh. A related instrument is thedholak or dholki.Dhols are amongst other events used in Indian wedding ceremony processions such asBaraat orVaryatra.
Someone who plays the dhol is known asdholi.
The word Dhol is derived fromSanskrit wordḍhola, a term for drum in Sanskrit language.[1]
The dhol is a double-sided barrel drum played mostly as an accompanying instrument in regional music forms. InQawwali music, the termdhol is used to describe a similar, but smaller drum with a smallertabla, as a replacement for the left-hand tabla drum. The typical sizes of the drum vary slightly from region to region. In Punjab, the dhol remains large and bulky to produce the preferred loud bass. In other regions, dhols can be found in varying shapes and sizes, and made with different woods and materials (fiberglass, steel, plastic). The drum consists of a wooden barrel with animalhide or synthetic skin stretched over its open ends, covering them completely. These skins can be stretched or loosened with a tightening mechanism made up of either interwoven ropes, or nuts and bolts. Tightening or loosening the skins subtly alters thepitch of the drum sound. The stretched skin on one of the ends is thicker and produces a deep, low-frequency (higher bass) sound and the other thinner one produces a higher-frequency sound. Dhols with synthetic, or plastic, treble skins are common.
The dhol is played using two wooden sticks, usually made out of wood, cane, or also known as wickers cane. The stick used to play thebass side of the instrument is known as thedagga in Punjabi. Traditionally the Dhol player would go and look for a branch from a hardwood tree known as Tali (oak or mahogany) that was naturally curved at that angle and use this as the Dagga (Bass Stick). The reason for the bend stick is because of the goat skin. This is thin like 80-100gsm paper, so the stick has to be bent to avoid piercing the skin. The bass stick or Dagga is the thicker of the two and is bent in an eighth- or quarter-circular arc on the end that strikes the instrument.[2] The other stick, known as theteeli, is much thinner and flexible and used to play the higher note end of the instrument.[3]
The dhol is slung over the shoulder or, more rarely, around the neck of the player with a strap usually made up of woven cotton.[4] The surface of the wooden barrel is in some cases decorated with engraved patterns and sometimes paint.
In the pre-Partition era, dozens of rhythms were played on the Punjabi dhol, which corresponded to specific functions. However, with the decline or disappearance of some cultural practices, recent generations of dhol players have become unfamiliar with many of these. At the same time, the growth of folkloric staged bhangra dance in Punjab inspired the creation of many new rhythms particular to that dance.[5]
Some of the most common Punjabi dhol rhythms arebhangra (originating with the old, community bhangra dance),dhamaal (associated with many cultural functions, including worship atSufi shrines), andkaharva, a dance and song rhythm. The staged "bhangra" dance, originating in the 1950s, gave special prominence tokaharva, for the performance of actions calledluddi. In the 1970s, many more actions were added to staged bhangra to go with the kaharva rhythm, which started to become one of the most prominent rhythms associated with the dance. At the same time, this type of rhythm would be played on the dholki drum to accompany Punjabi songs. So when, in the 1990s, Punjabi pop songs began to evoke bhangra dance, they used the kaharva rhythm. It is known now by various names. Some dhol players call itkaharva, its technical name, while other players in Punjab call itluddi to refer to the dance of that name. With the style of dhol-playing that developed in the U.K., the namechaal was adopted, probably in reference to the "chaal" (movements) it accompanies in modern bhangra. However, that term is not used elsewhere. Johnny Kalsi is a UK Dhol player that established a syllabus to teach the art of playing this instrument. Although there is no official syllabus or phrasing for the learning process, he took the North Indian language of Tabla to visualise the beats as phonetic phrases to make learning easier.[6][page needed]
The introduction of electronic devices such astape recorders has led to a decline in the importance of dhol players in celebratory events. Nevertheless, dhol music still figures in the studio recordings of present-day raas, garba and bhangra music artists.
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Shail Vyas claims several percussion instruments such as the Dhol maybe came from the influence of some clay-made instruments that are similar to the Dhol, which are found in Indus Valley Civilisation.[7] Dhol is depicted in earliest ancient Indian sculptural arts as one of the chief percussion instruments for ancient Indian music along withtabla.[citation needed]Ain-i-Akbari, describes the use of Dhol in the orchestra of theMughal emperorAkbar the Great.[8] The Indo-Aryan word "dhol" appears in print around 1800 in the treatiseSangitasara.[9]
The Punjabi dhol is used in thePunjab region of Pakistan and northern India. In Pakistan, the dhol is mostly played in thePunjab region; however, it is also used throughout the country ranging from as far south as Karachi and as far north as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In India it is found in the states ofPunjab,Himachal Pradesh,Haryana, andDelhi. The beats of dhol have been an element in the ceremonies of the great Sufi mystics and their followers. The patterns of dhol have been developed to catalyze the mind of the devotee who is seeking spiritual trance.[citation needed]
InAssam, the dhol is widely used inRongali Bihu (Bohag Bihu), the Assamese new year celebrations in the month of April. Celebrated in mid-April every year (usually on 14 or 13 April according to the Assamese traditional calendar), the dhol is an important and a quintessential instrument used inBihu dance. The origin of the Dhol in Assam dates back to at least the 14th century when it was referred in Assamese Buranjis as being played by the indigenous people. This shows that the origin of Dhol in Assam was much older than the rest of India, and the name was probably due to sanskritisation. The people of theValley reckon that the beats of thedhol are enchanting for people even at a long distance. Played by using a bamboo stick with bare hands, the Assamese dhol is made up of a wooden barrel with the ends covered primarily with animalhide (unlike the rest of the Indian subcontinent, where it could be a synthetic skin as well), that can either be stretched or loosened by tightening the interwoven straps. The dhol player is termedDhulia and the expert in dhol is termedOjah (Assamese: ওজা).
TheKhol a kind of dhol also has an aspect of symbolism inAssamese culture, and one considers it to be a "devo badyo" (Assamese: দেৱ বাদ্য) or an instrument of god believed to be brought toEarth by thePandavas.[10]
Dhol (which is always accompanied bytasha,cymbals, etc.) is an important part of Goanshigmo celebrations.[11] It also is an important part of Goan temple music; the temple dhol was traditionally played by a specific caste.[12]
The dhol was used by Gujaratis during celebrations such as Navaratri to accompany garba. Garba are the folk songs which describe the grace of the divine mother. It is one of the important musical instruments in Gujarat.
InMaharashtra, dhol is a primary instrument used inGanesh festivals. In the city ofPune, locals come together to form dhol pathaks (troupes). Pune supposedly has the largest number of dhols inIndia. In the city ofNagpur, there are many troupes that play dhol on festivals and other occasions. Here dhol is referred to as 'Sandhal'. Dhol is made up of two stretched membranes tied by a strong string. One side of the dhol is played by wooden stick called "tiparu", on that side black coloured ink paste stick in the centre. This membrane is called the "dhum". In technical language, it is called base. Another side of dhol is called "thapi" or "chati". In technical language, it is called as tremer, this side of membrane is only played by palm. Boll of the dhol is "Taa", "Dhin" and "Dha". "Taa" for the "Thapi" side, "Dhin" for the "Dhum" side and "Dha" for both sides played together.
CalledDhollu inKannada, the folk dance is known asDollu Kunitha -Kunitha meaning dance. The folk art is mainly preserved and performed by the people of theKuruba community of Karnataka.[13]
In theGarhwal region, specific musical caste groups like theauji,das ordholi have historically played the dhol and damau, the two folk instruments of the region, at special occasions or religious festivals according to theDhol Sagar, an ancient treatise that was transmitted orally and by practical teaching.[14]
The "dhak" (Bengali: ঢাক) is a huge membranophone instrument from India. The shapes differ from almost cylindrical to the barrel. The manner of stretching the hide over the mouths and lacing also varies. It is 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.
Drum beats are an integral part of Durga Puja. It is mostly played by the Bengali community.
The dhol is the main musical instrument in thePashtun dance known asattan. The Afghan and IranianDohol is not the same drum on theIndian subcontinent.
Caucasian dhol is called dhol inArmenia, dholi or doli inGeorgia andAbkhazia, and doul inNorth Caucasus.
It has become popular in other parts of the world due toIndian diaspora and diaspora from theIndian subcontinent. Dhol has been a popular musical instrument in formal and informal dance performances for decades.
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