Under the popular museum series ‘Exhibit of the Month’ of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, a traditional object is displayed in the appearance for a whole month. In this regard, RM Nayal said that the exhibit for the month of July, 2021 - Dhol and Damau is one of the ancient folk instruments of uttarakhand.
It is also known as the Mangal Yantra or divine instrument due to its divine origin. Not a single event of hilly culture takes place without echos of Dhol-Damau. It is said that it was originated from the Damaroo of lord Shiva. Shiva first recited it to mother Parvati , when shiva was playing it one of his Gana present over there memorised it and the tradition is continuing since then. Dhol and Damau is the soul of the rural culture of uttarakhand. Birth to death and abode to jungle none of the social activity or ceremony completes without Dhol (drum) and Dholi (Drummer). Dhol and Damau both are complement to each other and their mutual relation is considered as the husband and wife (Shiva-Shakti). This Exhibit of the Month’ has been inaugurated by Rakesh Bhatt, Assistant Curator.
Dhol is a double membrane or two way drum played with help of a wooden stick from one end and by hand on other end. Dhol is a cylindrical structure made of brass or copper. Its left end is covered with goat hide and the right one with of the buffalo or Barahsingha called Poodi. The membrane of right end is thicker and played with a wooden stick whereas left one is thinner and played by beating with hand. Both ends are tied well with a special kind of rope called Fulangu made of cannabis. A strip of brass is fixed in the middle of the drum called Bijesaar. Bijesaar is the symbol of snake deity. 12 braces are fixed for tuning the dhol by tightening or loosening these.