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''

| image_capt = Mridanga Bayanbayan, or Kholkhol

The '''khol''khol' also known as a '''mridanga''' ([[Sanskrit]]: {{lit}} "mrit+anga" = "clay limb; not to be confused with '''[[mridangam]]''') is a [[terracotta]] two-sided drum used in northern and eastern [[eastern India]] for accompaniment with [[devotional music]] (''[[bhakti]]''). It is also known as a ''mridanga'' (< [[Sanskrit]] {{transl|sa|mṛd}} + {{transl|sa|aṅga}}, {{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 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 ''[[Borgeetborgeet]]''s (lyrical songs) in Assam. Assamese polymath [[Sankardev]]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]]).