Nashik Dhol

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Have you experienced 'Nashik Dhol' ?  There is a reason that I did not say 'Have you heard the 'Nashik Dhol'? Let me begin, Nashik Dhol is native to Maharashtra. It is a band playing drums. These drums are huge and tied to the waist of the players. There is one stick for the drum and the hand is used to provide music the beat. This is traditional Maharastra music. There is one member of the band who plays a bell. The bell is the old school bell which we had basically a dish and a spoon which was given to young children to play with. In our country, No one gave plastic toys to their toddlers. It was always old steel vessels from the kitchen like bowls in various sizes, plate and a spoon. The child learnt to hold and grasp the vessels. He understood sound which he created by banging and he stopped it after a point unlike the battery operated toys where the synthetic sound just does not stop. 

Nashik Dhol is played during Ganpati and Gudi Padwa. The band is in huge numbers. They are dressed in traditional  cotton Kurta Pajama in white and a topi on their head. There is an orange coloured waist band or sash tied on the waist. One person is carrying the Hindu saffron flag which was earlier the flag of India. It is an orange flag of two triangles joined to each other. It is not rectangular. The flag post is very high. The person who carries it dances in a rhythm with the Dhol. The school bell and the temple bell both very traditional is rung at intervals. There is a small team of players who have very small drums attached to their waist. They stand in a circle and play. Once they stop, the Nashik Dhol guys who are standing in 2 or 3  parallel  lines/ columns,  start playing. This is celebration music to announce the victory of people or the king. There is a military precision to it. People who dance to it and not shaking their full body or twisting and turning. It is rhythmic, matured, young and you go with the beats with your feet. One stands tall to do this and no bending or jerking. The " Bhagwa" flag, the dhol waalas smile and zazba and the timely bell which makes this work. it is a majestic experience. All well dressed in traditional way. No riff raff. There is respect and awe with which they play and with which we experience Nashik Dhol. There are cymbals used too by some players. There is reverence and Bhakti in the air and patriotism on display when they play it. I get goose bumps every time I go close and observe the Nashik DHol. Since we get to hear it in our area only during 'Ganpati Visarjan', we simply run from home to the next lane where they are playing. People who are a part of the Visarjan where the Nashik Dhol is being played, many a times wear the traditional 'Safo' or Pagadi. Safa or Safo or Paagad or Pagadi is how it is referred to in various Indian languages. It is a cotton cloth  which is a couple of metres long, usually in a bright orange or pink, which is tied as a head gear. Even when they are doing the set up or should I say gearing to play, it is a sight to watch. Larger than life drums are tied to the waist with thick white ropes. The player keeps adjusting the large Dhol on his waist. Tries if his hand moves well with the stick and the other hand which bangs the dhol and goes up in the air. Mind you, no song is played. This is just beats and its beauty. If there is space on the roads then the Dhol players are more spread out. Given Mumbai s space crunch, the get to be in the half of one side of the road which is given to Visarjan. This is dignified music and no Bollywood filmy songs which are so harsh to the ears with the loud speakers. Now there are women Dhol players in most teams. I fail to get how they carry that heavy Dhol for so long.  All of them wear similar clothes. Women wear a Nath or the traditional Maharashtrian nose pin. The man who dances with the flag pole keeps it straight at all times. Women to take it on and I do not know how they balance it so beautifully and move to the Dhol Taal. Actually, even using the word 'beats'  or 'bass' defeats the grandeur and feel of Nashik Dhol.  So many videos on YouTube are not the traditional 'Nashik Dhol' which is always calm and vibrant and brings oneness. We bring home Bappa like a small baby and take care of him for ten days. When He is going on 'Anant Chaturdashi', we give him a King's farewell with Nashik Dhol for his onward journey to his home. From here on, you want to say, "Pudcha Varshi Laukar Ya" and really mean it.

More people should play musical instruments for the joy of it. I am musically challenged as in I cannot sing or play any instrument but I definitely have a ear for music. The thing is people want to start playing music for fame and money. Then Bollywood is the place for money and it is all stuck in nepotism. Our house help's sons go to play the drums for Ganpati, wedding Baraat and Navratri. Both the boys are naturally gifted. The younger one who has just passed his tenth grade,  sits on top of the band with his own set of drums and has his own YouTube videos. They play Bollywood songs. Both have have a very high style quotient and simplicity . It is an endearing combination.They are professional Kho Kho players and are studying in college. Our Maharaj who comes for Ganpati from Dhanbad,  his youngest son is all of 12 years and can sketch any picture from any book exactly as it is. All this hidden talent, which we as a society, need to hone. 

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