Khol: Difference between revisions

{{About|the clay double-headed drum of eastern India.|the woodenspecific double-headedclay drum of Odisha|Mrudanga|the wooden drum of southern India|mridangamMridangam}}

| name = ''Khol''

| names = Mridanga

| image_capt = Mridanga Bayanbayan, or Kholkhol

| background = [[Percussion]]

The '''''khol''''' ({{lang-as|খোল}})is alsoa known[[terracotta]] astwo-sided adrum '''mrudanga'''used in thenorthern and [[Odiaeastern languageIndia]] (lit.for "mrit+anga"accompaniment =with "clay[[devotional limb") ormusic]] (''[[bhakti]]'mridôngo''' ({{lang-bn|মৃদঙ্গ}}). (notIt tois bealso confusedknown withas a ''mridanga'[[mridangam]]''') is a(< [[terracottaSanskrit]] two-sided{{transl|sa|mṛd}} drum+ used{{transl|sa|aṅga}}, in{{lit|clay northernlimb}}), andnot easternto [[India]]be for accompanimentconfused with [[devotional music]] (''[[bhaktimridangam]]''). It originates from the Indian states of [[West Bengal]], [[Assam]] and [[Manipur]]<nowiki>. The drum is played with palms and fingers of both hands. {{</nowiki>

The Kholkhol is regarded as resembling to the ancient ''Gopuchhagopuchha'' 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>

There are so many histories about its origin. Different types of Khol are available in north eastern India. [[Odisha]], Manipur, Bengal and Assamese Khol are commonly found in different forms. The wooden khol was made into terracotta by the Assamese polymath [[Sankardev]].<ref name="Indian Literature">{{cite book|title=Indian Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vmVjAAAAMAAJ|accessdateaccess-date=23 December 2012|year=1970|publisher=Sähitya Akademi.|page=84}}</ref>

The Kholkhol is considered an integral part of the [[Ek Saran Naam Dharma]] culture and is used in ''[[Bhaonabhaona]]'' (plays), G''ayan[[gayan-Bayan'bayan]]', ''Prasangaprasanga-[[kirtan]]'' and ''[[Borgeet|Borgeetsborgeet]]''s (lyrical songs) in Assam. Assamese polymath [[Sankardev|Sankardeva]]a is known to have adapted and evolved the tradition of ''Gayangayan-Bayanbayan'' by using musical instruments like the khol and [[Taal (instrument)|Taaltaal]]. 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|location=|pages=}}</ref>

The instrument is used in every visnuVishnu (Jagannath, Radha Krishna) temple in odishaOdisha during [[arati]] timerituals.

The drum is used to accompany Odia, Bengali [[kirtan]]s by medieval poets like [[Chandidas]], [[Govindadasa]] and [[Gyanadas]]. It is also used to accompany [[Gaudiya Nritya]], one of the nine [[Indian classical dance]]s (as recognized by Ministry of Culture, and not recognized by [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]]).

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