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EveryParampara

Dhol

The double-headed barrel drum that drives Punjabi and Gujarati celebrations.

A pattern drawn for this page, not a picture of Dhol.

Also: dholak

The dhol is a large two-headed drum, hung from a strap and played with a thick curved stick on one side and a thin one on the other, producing a deep bass and a sharp crack. It leads Punjabi bhangra, wedding processions and festivals such as Vaisakhi, and is played in Gujarat for garba and in Pakistan for the shrine of Sufi saints. The dhol player, a respected specialist, sets the energy, and the rhythms have names. The smaller dholak is played by women at weddings and sangeet. At a baraat, the sound of the dhol announces the groom's arrival, and no one stays still.

Region: South Asia

See also

BhangraBaraatSangeet

Find traditions that mention Dhol

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