Traditional Musical Instruments of Assam & Notable Exponents
Category | Instrument Name | Description & Usage | Prominent Exponents / Practitioners |
Avanaddha Vayda (Percussion / Membrane) | Bihu Dhol (ঢোল) | Wood-and-leather drum played with a hand and a stick; central to Bihu music and dance. | Somnath Bora Ojha, Khagen Mahanta, Prasanna Gogoi |
Khol (খোল) | Two-faced terracotta drum heavily used in Vaishnavite Bhaona, Sattriya, and Borgeet. | Tankeswar Hazarika Borbayan, Ghanakanta Bora, Jatin Goswami | |
Nagara (নাগাৰা) | Pair of large kettle-drums played using sticks, widely used in Nagara Naam performances. | Rambhadra Mahanta, Haladhar Das | |
Bor Dhol / Joy Dhol | Large aboriginal drums used in traditional folk, tribal, and Deodhani shamanistic rituals. | Traditional village folk groups (Lower Assam / Darrang) | |
Kham (খ্ৰাম) | Cylindrical wooden drum unique to Bodo and Dimasa tribal folk ensembles. | Local folk practitioners from Bodo/Dimasa communities | |
Sushira Vadya (Wind / Aerophone) | Pepa (পেঁপা) | Horn-pipe wind instrument made of buffalo horn and bamboo reed; generates a sharp, high-pitched Bihu tune. | Ranjit Gogoi, Biren Singha, Dilip Changmai |
Bahi / Siphoong (বাঁহী) | Bamboo flutes; Siphoong (a 5-hole long bamboo flute) is central to Bodo Kherai music. | Late Prabhat Sarma, Dipak Sarma, Tarali Sarma | |
Xutuli (সুতুলি) | Clay or bamboo whistle shaped like a seed, producing cuckoo-like soft tunes. | Master Bihu artisans & Folk preservation groups | |
Gogona (গগণা) | Jaw-harp made of seasoned bamboo played between teeth and fingers; produces a distinct buzzing vibration. | Bihu folk artists & traditional women’s groups | |
Kali / Kahlia (কালীয়া) | High-pitched pipe similar to the Shehnai, used in Sattriya and traditional royal court processions. | Satra-based traditional musicians | |
Tata Vadya (Stringed / Chordophone) | Tokari (টোকাৰী) | Plucked single or double-stringed plucked instrument used in Tokari Geet and spiritual storytelling. | Umakanta Bairagi, Pratima Barua Pandey |
Dotara (দোতোৰা) | Multi-stringed plucked instrument widely used in Goalpariya folk music. | Pratima Barua Pandey, Rameshwar Pathak | |
Asamiya Been (বীন) | Ancient bowed string instrument historically used by local folk bards. | Traditional folk bards & cultural conservators | |
Ghana Vadya (Idiophone / Solid Metal or Bamboo) | Bhortal (ভোঁৰতাল) | Large, heavy brass cymbals used in Sattriya’s energetic Bhortal Nritya and Naam-Kirtan. | Narahari Burha Bhakat, Ghanakanta Bora |
Toka (টকা) | Split-bamboo clapper providing the main rhythm in Bihu music and dance. | Folk Bihu dance troupes across Assam | |
Bihutal / Khutital (বিহুতাল) | Small hand cymbals made of bell-metal used to keep beat during Bihu. | Traditional Bihu performers |
Cultural Significance
- Vaishnavite Heritage: Instruments like the Khol and Bhortal were institutionalized during the 15th–16th century neo-Vaishnavite movement initiated by Srimanta Sankardeva for Bhaona (dance-drama) and Borgeet.
- Agrarian & Tribal Traditions: Instruments like the Pepa, Gogona, Toka, and Siphoong reflect the rural economy and seasonal festivals of indigenous communities like the Bodos, Rabhas, Mising, and Tiwas.