From the shape and sound of Hutuli, it can be deduced that this instrument imitates birds. It is made of sticky soil. In Assamese culture during the festival of Bohag Bihu, Hutuli has an importance of its own. Initially, the cowboys (Gorokhiya lora) used Hutuli as a toy, because of ease of construction. Hutuli is played by both boys and girls in Bihu, but most importantly Hutuli is an indispensable part of Jeng Bihu and Bihuwati dances, and predominantly played by girls.
The Karbi community calls it Torlit and it is made in the imitation of the sound of the cicada to invoke rain. The Karbi young boys play the Torlit to amuse in their slash-and-burn cultivation. The Rabha community calls it Gugubela or Gugumela and is made of sticky soil in hemispherical shape. It is played by cowherds in leisure time of cultivation.