Dappu (Telangana)

Understand

Where Dappu (Telangana) comes from

The Dappu is the cowhide-frame-drum dance of the Telangana region — performed by men in the community-festival context and at the political-rally tradition that is closely associated with the Telangana state-formation movement. The dappu drum is a smaller drum than the dolu of Maharashtra or the dhol of the northern states, with the cowhide stretched on a small wooden frame and held in one hand. The dappu is played by the men of the Telugu community particularly at the Jatara (the annual fair-and-pilgrimage cycle of the Telugu temples) and at the cultural processions of the state's identity. The dappu was the principal music of the Telangana cultural movement of 2009-2014 and remains a symbol of the Telangana state-identity.

How it's practiced

The Dappu is performed by groups of men in the community-festival context and at political rallies. The men dance in a circle (or in a procession) with the dappu (the small drum) held in the left hand and struck with the fingers or a thin stick of the right hand. The dance is energetic and is associated with the procession of the village festival (the Jatara) and with the modern political-rally tradition of Telangana. Music is the dappu-lead, with the small shehnai and the dholak in the larger performances. Costume is the everyday Telugu men's dress — the dhoti and the bright kurta, with the regional turban of the festival. Performances are at the central village square and at the procession of the political rally.