Dhol (Telangana)

Understand

Where Dhol (Telangana) comes from

The Dhol is the heavy two-headed drum-dance tradition of Telangana, performed by men of the Muslim and Hindu communities in the wedding and political-rally context. The dhol is closely associated with the Muslim wedding tradition of the Telangana and Hyderabad Deccan (the dhol-wallah is a regular presence at the Hyderabadi nikah / marriage), and is also a defining instrument of the Telugu political rally and the cultural processions of the state. The dhol is played at the Jatara (the regional fair) and at the cultural programmes of the Telangana state. The dhol is the principal loud instrument of the Telugu-speaking region's wedding tradition and is performed by men of the Hada, the Shaik and the Dudekula Muslim communities of the region.

How it's practiced

The Dhol is performed by men of the community in lines or in processional formation, with the dhol (the heavy two-headed drum) slung from the neck and struck with curved sticks. The dancers jump and sway in time to the heavy rhythm of the drum, with the women's clapping or small cymbals (the tinikina) providing a contrasting rhythm. The dance is energetic and is associated with the procession of the wedding procession (the baraat) and the political rally. Costume is the everyday regional dress — the dhoti and the kurta for the men, with the small regional turban. Performances are at the wedding procession and at the cultural-political programme of the community.