tribal music and musical instruments
Material Used in Big Dhol, gujarat
Drum made with big sizes is constructed of commonly available woods like teak, mahuda, mango, and bea, which are presently found in forests around. Goat-skin, properly tanned by the local tanneries, makes the surface of the drum that produces quality sound and durability. The drum generally gets used by teak-made sticks for playing, and the performance is usually accompanied by brass or bronze thalis and bamboo-sharnais. All this ooze in materials and instruments stand testimony to the resourcefulness and deep link the Rathwa tribe understands with the natural environment, exhibiting their craftsmanship and culture.
Big drum/ Bada Dhol of the Rathwa tribe would speak of pride and unity and would form a core part especially in the celebration of dance by this tribe during Holis. It will also give them a base through which they connect to their spiritual beliefs and can be used as a sacred instrument for ancestral happenings and blessings during all festive occasions. The beats of the drum are expected to bring harmony to the community and serve as a thread binding the absolute with the earthly.
Within the cultural framework of Rathwas, the Big drum/ Bada Dhol is more than a musical instrument; it is an integral and sacred part of the culture that defines the whole identity of the tribe as well as their spiritual attitudes. Its believed protective nature is known to reject evil forces and even count blessings from deities. The instrument is treated as sacred, inaugurated on auspicious occasions, and kept safely within the community to show its spiritual essence.