The legal restriction on playing of loud music has brought the traditional drummers back in business here. Once again, the drummers would dominate the show during the mass immersion procession.
With the advent of electronic music in band parties and their growing popularity among the youths, drums had been relegated to the edge. DJ boxes, record players and amplifiers had replaced traditional drum beating in last decade. But since sound has been restricted to 65 decibels in a procession, the organisers are now planning to restore traditional drums.
According to Mantu, owner of a Brahmapur-based band ‘Tara Tarini’, he was facing tough competition from traditional drum beaters because of court restrictions limiting sound levels .His band party had procured amplifiers before the imposition of legal restrictions on sound limits. “Still, we are performing under constant fear of police crackdown,” added Mantu.
A few traditional drummers said playing the dholki and drum is still a part time profession, but it is now in great demand, thanks to the court direction restricting noise levels. “We have been getting many orders for performance during puja immersion,” he said.
The drum-beating art that was slow and steadily fading is apparently on revival path. The services of traditional drum-beaters were much sought during the Dussehra and lakshmi Puja festivities and the immersion ceremonies of goddesses. Dholki, Mahuri, Mridangas and Madalas are now the first choice of generation next, sources said.
Beating the traditional music instruments needs a rhythmic meaning that is soothing to human ears. Drummers are dexterous in their inimitable style while dancing to the tune of drum-beating. For the observers, itRs s a treat to watch, said Prasant Nayak, a member of Ayodhyanagar puja committee.
Rabi Murmu, head of a traditional drum-beating group of Balangiri, said their performances used to be limited to periodic religious functions in villages, but now, they are invited whenever an immersion procession organisers.
For the past few years, his troupes are performing in immersion processions in Dusshera, lakshmi Puja, Ganesh Puja and Kali Puja immersions in coastal parts of the district, said Murmu.