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Home > Kerala Temples > Musical Instruments > Chenta ChentaChentaChenta or uruttu Chenta is a refined version of veekkan used in temples, though uruttu-chenta is seldom used within naalambalam. Its tun is made of the heart-wood of jackwood (specifIcally varikkaPlavu), kani-konna, kumbil, and alari. It has a length of 16 .5 - 17 .5 angulams, diameter 8 3/4 – 9 3/4 angulams. It is to be noted that though for Itayka the ends of tun are flat and rings are made and attached to it, for chenta the ends have projections of 2 angulams width and 1 angulam height. The remaining portion of the tun is of uniform size after chiseling. The chenta-vattam or outer frame on sides are made of kalippana-vaari (palm-tree) or mula-vaari (bamboo) of 1.5 angulams breadth and 1/4 angulams thickness. The tanned leather used for sides are either that of cow or bull. The leather is fIxed to the ring by using twelve pieces of small bamboo-sticks and by a leather band of 4 angulams. Chenta has two sides known as valamthala (right side) and itam-thala (left side) each is differently made. Itam-thala is the side in which urutti-kottal (beating the drum by rolling the stick) is done and hence is known as uruttu-chenta. Valam-thala is different as it contains seven layers of leather in circlet form of different sizes. This will enable to give different sounds at each circlet on valam-thala. At each side of the rings 12 holes on the sides are made to connect both sides by cords. There is provision for increasing the tension of cords for which two vattakannis made of round bell-metal (of size 1/2 angulams diameter 1/4 angulams thickness) pieces are also used. Again 11 pieces of leather, known as kutthuvaaram, are used for regulating the tension of cords. For suspending the chenta on the shoulder of the drummer a thol-kaccha (shoulder cloth of 2 meters in length with sufficient width fIxed to the ends of the rings of the chenta is used. The kole (drum-stick of 12 angulams in length) is made up of woods of chappangam, mantharam, raajamalli, kottam or vaalanpuli. One side has to be slightly curved for which. that side has to be heated by using a mould. Chenta is very common and is used in ceremonial processions outside naalambalam like pallivetta, aaraatt etc besides its use in panchaari-melam, paandi-melam, thaayambaka, keli etc.
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