ਢੱਡ

Dhadd (ਢੱਡ) is a small hourglass shaped drum of Punjab, held in one hand and played with the fingers. It belongs to the Dhadi singers, the balladeers who sing of heroes, saints and Sikh history to its beat, usually alongside the sarangi. It is also spelt Dhad or Dhadh.

What does dhadd mean in Punjabi?

Dhadd is the Punjabi name of this waisted drum, a percussion instrument native to Punjab. The word names the drum itself, and by association the sound at the heart of a Dhadi performance: a low, mellow beat that carries the singing rather than driving dancers. Wikipedia lists the dhadd among the traditional instruments of Punjab, and notes that folk singers beyond the Dhadi tradition also play it.

How is the dhadd made?

The body is carved from wood with a thin waist in the middle, like an hourglass. Writers on the instrument name mango, mulberry and sheesham among the woods used. Both ends are covered with goat skin, laced tight with ropes that hold the drum firmly together, and the finished drum is sometimes dressed with tassels and bells.

How is the dhadd played?

The player holds the dhadd in one hand and strikes one head with the fingers, producing open and closed sounds with a precision the shaken damru cannot match. A cloth band wrapped around the waist is tightened or eased to raise or lower the pitch while playing, so one small drum can follow the rise and fall of a long ballad.

Who are the Dhadi singers?

A Dhadi jatha, or troupe, usually brings together one sarangi player, two dhadd players and a singer who narrates the story. Their songs tell of valiant soldiers and heroes, of religious and romantic tales, and of the deeds and teachings of the Sikh Gurus. Tradition retold by The Hindu says Guru Hargobind turned the bards from singing the praise of rulers to singing the praise of God, and the dhadd has stayed close to that sacred storytelling ever since. It is also heard behind bhangra and in songs for children.