Traditionally during the start of the summer the people would celebrate a good harvest by dancing and singing songs to the sound of the Dhol and the Tumbi, meaning king, a single instrument plucked and fingered at the neck. The songs would also include the descriptive lyrics that would reflect on the dance.

 

Actions were taken from the villagers tending the crops. Mimicking the same motions they would do in the field like cutting the corn or sowing seeds. The lyrics were about getting drunk, being very merry and general socialising.

 

Food would also play a major part in the celebration, this dance form became the traditional roots on folk dance in the Punjab……Bhangra was born!

 

The Dhol is a traditional North Indian instrument made from a large wooden shell. It has two skins which are made from goat hide. Rope is then woven through the edge of both skins and then tensioned to produce a bass and a treble sound. It is extremely loud and is played with sticks made from cane.

 

Long ago during the time of the Mogul empire in the late 16^th century a primitive form of the Dhol was played at war called a Nagra. These were equivalent to side drummers in the British battalions. Although played on one side It was just as loud. Before the privilege of telephones, the Dhol was used by town criers to drum up crowds, read out notices or make formal announcements.

 

Punjab means the land of five rivers as it has five rivers running through it, the soil is very fertile. This enabled settlers to become land owners and farmers.

 

Now the Dhol has become the identified with India with the immense power and force.

Taking Dhol to the wider world is the mission of The Dhol Foundation.