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“Kortal” for the Ecoversity Alliance

The video is a dramatisation about the musical instrument Kortal from the state of Assam in India. It starts with a fictional story about the origins and then gets into the construction of Kortal. The video contains glimpses of folk culture and Neo-Vaishnavite culture in the form of devotional songs, references to history. This format has been chosen so that the video can evoke widespread interest in the community where it is intended to be distributed. Kortal is made of a piece of bamboo about half cubit long bifurcated and levelled. It is played by placing it in the palm in accompanying devotional music. Amongst the different classification of musical instruments, the Kortal can be called an Audiophone

“Kortal” was possible thanks to the support of the Ecoversities Alliance 2020 Publication, Film and Multimedia Initiative.

“Xutuli” for the Ecoversity Alliance

A dramatisation about the musical instrument Xutuli from the state of Assam in India.

The video starts with the probable story about the origins and then gets into the construction of different kinds of Xutuli. We also illustrate the science behind its musical tunes. This format has been chosen so that the video can evoke widespread interest in the community it is intended to be distributed. From the shape and sound of Xutuli, it can be deduced that this instrument imitates birds. It is made of sticky soil. In Assamese culture during the festival of Bohag Bihu, Xutuli has an importance of its own.
Initially, the cowherding boys (Gorokhiya lora) used Xutuli as a toy, because of ease of construction. Xutuli is played by both boys and girls in Bihu, but most importantly Xutuli 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.

“Xutuli” was possible thanks to the support of the Ecoversities Alliance 2020 Publication, Film and Multimedia Initiative.

 

Sanchi Pat

From 16th century onwards, Neo-Vaishnavism rose in the India state of Assam under the Vaishnava reformer Sankaradeva. And with it, manuscript painting flourished too! But over the years, many of the old manuscripts got damaged and the art declined. Reasons being – decline of the Ahom dynasty, Moamoria rebellion, Burmese and British occupations, apathy of the public, natural calamities and proliferation of the printing press. Currently, this tradition is carried on by very few practitioners.

Anandalohari or Gopiyantra

It is a kind of Tokari. It is made out of a wooden bottle gourd shell. The lower portion of the shell is covered with a goat’s hide. A Muga string is connected at the middle of the hide. The other end of the string is attached with a cloth ball or bamboo knob. The end of the string is held with the left hand and operated with the stroke of the fore finger of the right hand. It is accompanied with devotional songs.

Kodital or Ghilatal

An Audiophone instrument, it is made of a small bamboo spike about 3 feet long to be grasped with the hand. Small calibres are cut at half inch intervals. It is dragged across a cowrie shell holding in the left-hand palm to emit musical sound in accompaniment with devotional songs. In the Hajong tribe the cowrie is substituted with entada (Ghila).

Ektara or Laotokari

It is made from a hollow bottle gourd attached to a bifurcated bamboo cylinder closed at one end. The bottom of the gourd shell is covered with a thin hide fitted to the centre with a Muga thread extended upto a peg near the node of the bamboo handle. The thread is operated with the forefinger of the right hand while the left hand pressing off and on the bamboo frame toward the node. It is used in almost every region of Assam. The instrument is accompanied with Dihanaam, Dehbisaror Geet and other devotional songs

Daskathiya

Daskathiya (Audiphone) is made from two bamboo strips about 8 inches long and 2 inches wide. It is accompanied with devotional songs of the Tea-tribes

Rogoidang

Rogoidang (Audiphone) is one of those instruments of the Tea-Tribes that are obsolete now. It is made of the bigger size of the Dolu-Bah or from Bhuluka-Bah (both are varieties of locally found bamboo in Assam). It is used in all festivities, Song and Dance and as an accompaniment to the leading instrument called Madol.

Kichokbenu

Kichokbenu (Cordophone) is a bamboo cylinder with nodes at both ends stripped off it’s outer rind. A bridge is passed across the smooth portion and is played with a bow like a herp. It is now extinct.