The dhol (Hindi pronunciation: [ɖʰoːl]) is a type of double-headed drum that is used in many regions across the Indian subcontinent. It is mainly found in northern areas such as Jammu, Himachal, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Kashmir, Sindh, Assam Valley, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Konkan, Goa, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. A related instrument is the dholak or dholki. Dhols are used in events like the Baraat or Varyatra, which are part of Indian wedding processions. Someone who plays the dhol is known as a dholi.

Construction

The dhol is a drum with two sides that is often used to support other instruments in traditional music. In Qawwali music, the word "dhol" refers to a smaller drum that replaces the left-hand tabla. The size of the dhol changes depending on the region. In Punjab, the dhol is large and heavy to create a strong, deep sound. In other areas, dhols come in different shapes and sizes, and may be made from wood, fiberglass, steel, or plastic. The drum has a wooden body with animal skin or man-made material stretched tightly over both ends. These materials can be adjusted using ropes or metal parts to change the drum's sound. The thicker skin on one end produces a deep, low sound, while the thinner skin creates a higher-pitched sound. Many dhols use synthetic materials for the higher-pitched side.

Playing

The dhol is played with two wooden sticks, often made from wood, cane, or wickers cane. The stick used to play the bass side of the instrument is called the dagga in Punjabi. Traditionally, dhol players would search for a curved branch from a hardwood tree called Tali (such as oak or mahogany) to use as the dagga. The curved shape of the stick is needed because the goat skin on the drum is very thin, like 80-100gsm paper. To avoid damaging the skin, the bass stick is bent into an eighth- or quarter-circular arc at the end that hits the drum. The other stick, called the teeli, is thinner and more flexible, and it is used to play the higher-pitched parts of the instrument.

The dhol is carried over the shoulder or, less commonly, around the neck using a strap made of woven cotton. Sometimes, the wooden body of the drum is decorated with engraved designs or painted.

Before the Partition of India, many different rhythms were played on the Punjabi dhol, each linked to specific traditions or events. However, as some cultural practices faded, newer generations of dhol players became less familiar with these older rhythms. At the same time, the rise of staged bhangra dance performances in Punjab inspired the creation of new rhythms that matched the dance.

Common dhol rhythms include bhangra (connected to traditional community bhangra dances), dhamaal (linked to Sufi devotional dances), and kaharva (a rhythm used in songs and dances). The staged bhangra dance, which began in the 1950s, gave special attention to the kaharva rhythm for movements called luddi. In the 1970s, more movements were added to staged bhangra to match the kaharva rhythm, making it one of the most popular rhythms for the dance. This rhythm was also played on the dholki drum to accompany Punjabi songs. When Punjabi pop music in the 1990s began to include bhangra dance styles, it used the kaharva rhythm. Today, the rhythm is called by different names: some players call it kaharva, its technical name, while others refer to it as luddi. In the U.K., dhol players often call it chaal, likely because it matches the "chaal" (movements) in modern bhangra. Johnny Kalsi, a U.K. dhol player, created a teaching system for the instrument, using the notation from the North Indian tabla to help explain the beats.

The use of electronic devices, such as tape recorders, has made dhol players less central in some celebratory events. However, dhol music is still used in the music recordings of modern raas, garba, and bhangra artists.

History

Shail Vyas says that some percussion instruments, like the Dhol, may have been influenced by clay instruments similar to the Dhol found in the Indus Valley Civilization. The Dhol is shown in ancient Indian sculptures as an important percussion instrument used in ancient Indian music along with the tabla. The book Ain-i-Akbari mentions that the Dhol was used in the musical orchestra of Mughal emperor Akbar the Great. The Indo-Aryan word "dhol" first appears in writing around 1800 in the book Sangitasara.

Regional forms and traditions

The Punjabi dhol is used in the Punjab region of Pakistan and northern India. In Pakistan, the dhol is mostly played in Punjab, but it is also used in other parts of the country, including as far south as Karachi and as far north as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In India, it is found in the states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi. The beats of the dhol are part of ceremonies for Sufi mystics and their followers. The patterns of the dhol are designed to help people who are seeking spiritual trance.

In Assam, the dhol is widely used during Rongali Bihu (Bohag Bihu), a festival celebrating the Assamese New Year in April. This festival usually happens in mid-April (often on April 13 or 14 according to the traditional Assamese calendar). The dhol is an essential instrument for Bihu dance. The dhol’s history in Assam dates back to at least the 14th century, as recorded in Assamese historical texts called Buranjis. This shows the dhol was used in Assam long before other parts of India, and its name may have been influenced by Sanskrit. People in Assam believe the dhol’s sound is enchanting even from far away. The Assamese dhol is made from a wooden barrel covered with animal hide. It can be tightened or loosened using straps. The person who plays the dhol is called a Dhulia, and an expert player is called an Ojah.

The Khol, a type of dhol, has symbolic meaning in Assamese culture. It is considered a "devo badyo," or an instrument of god, believed to have been brought to Earth by the Pandavas.

The dhol, often played with tasha (cymbals), is an important part of Goan shigmo celebrations and Goan temple music. In the past, temple dhol was traditionally played by a specific caste.

In Gujarat, the dhol is used during celebrations like Navaratri to accompany garba, a folk dance that honors the divine mother. The dhol is one of the most important musical instruments in Gujarat.

In Maharashtra, the dhol is a key instrument during Ganesh festivals. In Pune, people form groups called dhol pathaks to play the dhol. Pune is said to have the most dhol drums in India. In Nagpur, many groups play the dhol during festivals and other events. In Nagpur, the dhol is called "Sandhal." The dhol has two stretched membranes tied by a strong string. One side is played with a wooden stick called "tiparu," and the center of that side has a black ink paste. This side is called "dhum" or the base. The other side is called "thapi" or "chati," which is played with the palm. This side is called the tremer. The sounds of the dhol are called "Taa" (for the thapi side), "Dhin" (for the dhum side), and "Dha" (for both sides played together).

In Karnataka, the dhol is called "Dhollu" in Kannada, and the folk dance associated with it is called "Dollu Kunitha" (Kunitha means dance). This art form is mainly performed by the Kuruba community.

In the Garhwal region, specific musical castes like the auji, das, or dholi have historically played the dhol and damau, two folk instruments, during special events or religious festivals. These traditions are described in an ancient text called "Dhol Sagar," which was passed down orally and through practice.

The "dhak" (Bengali: ঢাক) is a large drum from Bangladesh and West Bengal. It can be shaped like a cylinder or a barrel. The way the hide is stretched and tied varies. It is usually worn around the neck, tied to the waist, or placed on the lap or ground. It is played with wooden sticks, and the left side is coated to create a heavier sound.

Drum beats are an important part of Durga Puja, a festival celebrated by the Bengali Hindu community.

The dhol is the main instrument in the Pashtun dance called attan. The Afghan and Iranian versions of the dhol are different from the dhol used on the Indian subcontinent.

The Caucasian dhol is called "dhol" in Armenia, "dholi" or "doli" in Georgia and Abkhazia, and "doul" in the North Caucasus.

The dhol has become popular worldwide due to the Indian diaspora and people from the Indian subcontinent. For many years, the dhol has been used in both formal and informal dance performances.