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Home > Kerala Temples > Musical Instruments > Thavil ThavilThavilThavil is similar to veekkan but its sound is different. It is an accompaniment instrument of naagaswaram. It is not considered an essential percussion instrument as per the Kerala Thaanthric tradition. However, it is used in certain temples particularly in South em Kerala for palli-unartthal and for deepaaraadhana. Jackwood is used for making it. It has a length of 15.5 angulams and a circumference of 42.5 angulams and thickness of about 1 angulam. Two iron rings, one big with 11 angulams (inner) diameter and the other 8 1/8 angulams diameter are fixed on either ends. The right side is made of two layers of leather, one over the other, the inside, one is that of the leather of calf of a cow and over it one that of a goat. In the left one the leather of goat alone is used. The ring at each end has 11 equi-distant holes for fixing both ends to the tun with strings. In addition there are three iron bands with holes at the centre (with 22 holes). At both ends depending on circumference two iron strips of 22 holes are fixed. Further ends are fixed by using nuts and bolts of required size beside a cloth for suspending it from the shoulder. Spanner is also used for adjusting tension. For itam-thala a drum stick made of mandaaram plant and for the valam-thala a viral-chuttu (a particular type of finger cap) are used.
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