Wildlife sanctuaries in Assam

Avanaddha Vadya In the Avanaddha Vadya category of instruments, sound is produced by striking the animal skin  which has been  stretched across an earthern or metal pot or a wooden barrel or frame. The earliest references to such instruments have been found in the Vedas where there is mention of Bhumi Dundhubhi; this was a hollow pit dug in the ground and covered with the hide of a buffalo or ox which was stretched across the pit. The tail of the  animal was used for striking the animal hide and thus sound was produced. Drums have been divided into different categories on the basis of their shapes and structure as also the position and placement for playing. The main categories are-Oordhwaka, Ankya, Alingya  and the waisted or the Damaru family of drums. (see diagrams). Oordhwaka The Oordhwaka drums are placed vertically  before the musician and sound is produced  by striking them with sticks or the fingers.  Prominent among these are the Tabla pair and Chenda.     Tabla The Tabla pair is a set of two vertical Oordhwaka drums. The right side is called the Tabla and  the left, the Bayan or Dagga. The Tabla has a wooden body with a covering of animal skin,  this is held together with leather straps. Between the straps and the wooden body, oblong  wooden blocks are placed. These are used for tuning the drums.  There is a syahi paste applied In the  centre of the animal skin, the tabla can be tuned accurately by striking the rims with a hammer. The body of the bayan is made of clay or metal and is covered with anil'J1al skin which also has  syahi paste applied on it. Some musicians do not tune this drum to an accurate pitch.     The tabla pair is used as accompaniment to vocal and instrumental Hindustani music and with many dance forms of northern India. The complicated talas of the Hindustani music  are played with great virtuosity on the tabla. Prominent musicians playing the tabla today are-Ustad Alia Rakha Khan and his son Zakir Hussain, Shafat Ahmed and Samata Prasad to name a few.