Khol: Difference between revisions

| name = ''Khol''

The '''''khol''''' is a [[terracotta]] two-sided drum used in northern and [[eastern India]] for accompaniment with [[devotional music]] (''[[bhakti]]''). It is also known as a '''mridanga''' (< [[Sanskrit]] {{transl|sa|mritmṛd}} + {{transl|sa|angaaṅga}}, {{lit|clay limb}}), not to be confused with ''[[mridangam]]''. It originates from the Indian states of [[West Bengal]], [[Assam]] and [[Manipur]]. The drum is played with palms and fingers of both hands.

The khol is regarded as resembling to the ancient ''gopuchha'' shape of drums, as described in [[Natya Shastra]]. The right face of the drum has a high pitch and produces a metallic sound, whereas the left face, produces a lower bass sound. The larger side can be tuned with humidity. On a humid day the larger side will loosen up and vibrate more producing the lower sound. During a dry day the side tightens up producing a high pitched sound. Players of the instrument will add water to their drum if they feel it does not produce a low enough sound. They will put a bit of water on their finger and spread it around the edge of the large side. They will either let it sit there for a few minutes, or manually stretch it with their palm. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.india-instruments.com/encyclopedia-khol.html|title=Khol - India Instruments|website=www.india-instruments.com|access-date=2019-10-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mridangams.com/2007/09/yathi.html|title=Yathi and Jathi - Classical Music Mridangam|website=www.mridangams.com|access-date=2019-10-20}}</ref>

The khol is considered an integral part of the [[Ek Saran Naam Dharma]] culture and is used in ''[[bhaona]]'' (plays), ''[[gayan-bayan]]', ''prasanga-[[kirtan]]'' and ''[[borgeet]]''s (lyrical songs) in Assam. Assamese polymath [[Sankardev]]a is known to have adapted and evolved the tradition of ''gayan-bayan'' by using musical instruments like the khol and [[Taal (instrument)|taal]]. According to Assamese [[Vaishnavites|Neo-Vaishnavites]], playing the khol is regarded as a holy activity and it is also considered to be one of the most important traditional percussion instruments.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/on-the-khol-trail/article21212672.ece|title=Soul of kirtans|last=Nandini|first=Dr M. Lalitha & M.|date=2017-11-30|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-20|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> It is also a key musical instrument that accompanies a [[Sattriya]] performance.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Music and Musical Instruments of North Eastern India|last=Barthakur|first=Dilip Ranjan|publisher=Mittal Publications|year=2003|isbn=81-7099-881-6}}</ref>

The instrument is used in every VisnuVishnu (Jagannath, Radha Krishna) temple in Odisha during [[arati]] rituals.