00:00 The rhythmic and the mystical sound of the dhaka.
00:14 It is the percussion of this instrument that gives beat to the festival of Durga Puja.
00:20 And the magicians of this beat are the dhakis.
00:28 The dhakis are an inseparable part of the festivities.
00:31 This beautiful rather eclectic musical instrument is made of mango wood and goat skin stretched
00:37 on both sides.
00:38 Handcrafted with utmost precision, it takes approximately 7 days to make a dhaka.
00:46 However, it's no easy task to carry these large drums over one's shoulder.
00:53 But these dhakis make it look effortless, playing for hours on end, eventually slipping
00:59 into a state of transcendence.
01:08 But for the artist of the dhaka, playing is more than just about making a living.
01:13 It's about preserving tradition that is passed from one generation to the next.
01:19 Traditionally, playing the dhaka was considered a male vocation.
01:25 But over time, women dhakis have also become an integral part of the festivities.
01:31 After all, Durga Puja is nothing but a celebration of the divine femininity.
01:38 So mark your calendar for a trip to this land of divine musical narratives as Bengal awaits
01:43 you.
01:44 [Music]
01:51 (upbeat music)
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