Journalism of Courage
The sight of dhol-tasha groups practicing across the city sets the right tempo for Ganesh Chaturthi,which begins from September 19. Trying to understand the raw enthusiasm and energy associated with the dhol-tasha practice,we decided to attend one such session organised by the Shiv Garjana Pathak. Finding the group was remarkably easy; the directions provided said Siddhi Gardens and once there,one just had to follow the reverberations from the hundreds of drums being played by the river Mutha. Members of the group were happy enough to give simple instructions to play the dhol Just follow the beat and if all else fails,copy the person in front of you.
Reassuring as this sounded,the first doubts began to sink in when volunteers began to tie the 13 kg dhol around the waist. The orientation of the dhol on the waist depends on whether the person is right-handed or left-handed. For the right-handed,the ‘koka’ is placed on the right side. The tipru is the thick drumstick used by the players; the koka is the side on which players strike the dhol. On the other side falls the ‘thapi’,which is meant to be struck by the free hand,keeping a steady beat all the while. The tipru striking the koka is what gives it the inimitable sound.
A little boy he couldn’t have been older than eight – drummed away with abandon,looking completely at ease with the hanging dhol. However,it was some comfort to note that there were several novices as well. The discovery of the evening it does actually get easier if you just let go and let the beat take over. Not easier on the limbs,however. By 10 pm,everyone in the group,novice and veteran,was exhausted and could be seen staggering away from the pandal,towards their regular lives as students,professionals and housewives.
We returned to ours,with numbness and weary trembling arms and tried to imagine what it must be like for the group members who spend four to five hours each day for two months,practising for those ten days of the festival.
