Election rallies are not the main source of income for tutari players. Rather, their livelihood depends on performances at weddings and housewarming ceremonies, inaugurations of new ventures, festivals like Gudi Padwa, etc. However, once every five years, when the election season kicks in, Tutari players get invited by most political parties to accompany the entry of a veteran leader or kickstart their speeches. The sound of a tutari, a wind instrument, evokes strong emotions in any Maharashtrian audience as it works as a symbol of strength and courage. This year there is a twist. In February 2024, the NCP(Sharadchandra Pawar) unveiled its new election symbol at Raigad fort. It was a man blowing a tutari. This had come after the Election Commission of India had recognised the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction as the real NCP and it was assigned the original clock symbol. Since then, tutaris have disappeared from events and rallies of other political parties. Rakesh Panchange, 38, from Dapodi, took up playing the tutari early in life as it had been passed on through five generations of his family. His usual earnings for playing the instrument is Rs 2,000 for two hours. Before 'man blowing tutari' was allotted as the NCP(SP)'s symbol, Panchangne played tutari for Shiv Sena’s Shrirang Appa Barne, Ajit Pawar’s event at New Sangvi Sai Chowk in Pune, and many more. Ever since the symbol was officially designated to the NCP(SP), Panchangne hasn't been invited to any major political event. “Earlier everyone used to call, but now I am only being invited by NCP(SP)”, said Panchangne. A good source of income for him this month has been the Parvati Yashashree awards — an initiative by NCP(SP)’s, Ashwini Kadam to felicitate women contributing to society across different fields. “For the award ceremony, I got around six orders this month. They are conferred upon the women at their own homes. We carry two trumpets and a Chaughada and are paid 3,500 an hour,” said Panchangne. Ashay Bhosale, 27, another tutari player, has been playing the instrument since he was 14-years-old to earn a living and 2024 is the first year he is performing at election rallies and campaigns. “I am a follower of Sharad Pawar’s ideology. They call me for two hours and pay me Rs 2,000 for it. I don’t usually like taking up orders for elections, but for Sharad Pawar sir, I will give the best I can,” said Bhosale. Other tutari players like Mahadev Jadhav from Manjiri and Pappu Bhat from Bibewadi remember being invited to many political rallies in previous elections, but as of now, neither has received a single order. “We are a group of ten people. We don’t really see which parties are inviting us but have attended and performed at many rallies before. This year we haven’t been invited even once,” said Jadhav. Sachin Gurav from Aurangabad has also been in this business for a long time. Gurav has played tutari at the G20 summit, Ellora Mahotsav, religious events, etc. “I was invited to some political events that saw leaders like All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s Imtiaz Jaleel and BJP’s Girish Mahajan. But this year, at least till now, I haven’t been invited by anyone,” said Gurav. The tradition of playing Tutari has already been on a decline. Though Panchange is the fifth in the family line to carry it forward and is keen on teaching it to his two-and-half-year-old son Sriram, he admits it isn’t sustainable. He is also a Gondahli, so jagran gondhal performances add to his income. Five years ago, he also ventured into the business of selling dry fruits. “We earn Rs 2,000 for two hours when we get orders. But there are times when artistes like us are not in demand. I started selling coconuts, cashews, almonds, etc. Now my tempo goes from gali to gali,” said Panchange.
