DRUM The word Drum hastwo meanings. The first meaning is a percussion instrument sounded by beingstruck with sticks or the hands, typically cylindrical, barrel-shaped, orbowl-shaped, with a taut membrane over one or both ends.
Second meaning is acylindrical container or receptacle. Today I wascleaning and keeping the new drum below the outer stair case. The drum is usedto collect water supplied by Municipality in summer. Ithought I may write about both drums. Sincerely, Gopalakrishnan 6-1-2022 1. Drum as a percussion instrument. Earlier times thedrums were mostly played in the temple and during auspicious functions in palaces.Later period they were played in homes for auspicious functions. They were alsoplayed for special general functions. But certain instruments like Edaikka,thimila etc. were used only used in temples. Probably in Keralawith Nagaradhana(serpent worship) in Kavu, drums started playing in Kavu (Smallforest area in homes having snakes) Now all theinstruments are played in public also. Edaikka is used nowadays to play withmusic also in TV performances. In Tamilnadu for inauspicious function also one sided flat drum is played.Periodically conch, a wind instrument is also blown. In Kerala conch is verysacred. However on reading about epic Mahabharata, conch was played during waralso. For royal family deaths the drumwas beaten at different stages of the burning body in my boyhood days. I am notsure whether it is followed now. 2. Use in general functions The drum calleduruttu chenda is played during house warming, shop opening, marriage hallopening and general functions. This drum is cylindrical and played on one side,though it is fitted with leather on both sides. Recently I read the bottom ofthe drum cannot be played, the leather used is different. In my boyhood daysfilm placards were taken along road. One man played the uruttu chenda beforehim. Now no such playing. 3. Marar community and playing drums In Kerala a specialcommunity by name marar is mostly playing drums in temples. Other communitiesplaying drums are kurup, poduval, Panikkar, who are all are ambalavasicommunity. They play for auspicious functions in homes also. Similarly inTamilnadu a sect of Vaisya community play drums in temples and auspiciousfunctions in homes. 4. Other functions For other functionsany community person plays drums in Kerala. In Tamilnadu special community personsplay one-sided drums during death. They also play conch and chengala. 4a. Restrictions in playing drums. In homes drumsshould not be played unnecessarily. It would bring poverty and accidents topeople. Generally those playing drums will not permit others to touch it. Drum players for practice andtesting can play drums in their homes. 5 Drums in homes Drums are used in homesto store water mostly during summer. Now double sheathed drums are available inshops in different sizes. Smaller size drums called water canes are used tokeep water for drinking. For different works medium size drums are used. 6 Drums in work place Large size drumsare used by contractors to store water at construction places. Mostly these areiron drums. 7. Drums for carrying Chemicals For carryingchemicals special fibre drums double sheathed with double caps are used. Earlieracids were carried in sealed clay jars. Now they are transported in fibrecanes. 8 Bitumen drums Bitumen drums areiron drums and are discarded after work generally. However during work theempty drums are used as dividers, blocking road etc. 9. Kerosene drums In ration shopskerosene is kept in large drums and pumped and taken to small drums fordistribution. 10 RO water In most homes inTamilnadu RO waste water is stored in large drums. It is used to wash outsideareas like portico, watering plants when scarcity of water is there. Normallythese are single sheathed medium quality drums. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/193980310.1490584.1641432296719%40mail.yahoo.com.
