 | |
| Classification | Percussion instrument, goatskin heads |
|---|---|
| Playing range | |
| Bolt tuned or rope tuned with dowels and hammer | |
| Related instruments | |
| damaru, idakka, dhad | |
The udukkai, udukai or udukku (Tamil: உடுக்கை) is a member of the family of membranophone percussion instruments of India and Nepal used in folk music and prayers in Tamil Nadu. The drums are an ancient design of hourglass drums similar to the northern damaru and southern idakka. Its shape is similar to other Indian hourglass drums, having a small snare stretched over one side. They are played with the bare hand, and the pitch may be tered by squeezing the lacing in the middle. It is made of wood or brass and is very portable.[1] It originated in Tamil Nadu as well. Other members in the family include thehuruk, hurkî, hurko, hudko or hudka, utukkai.
Another non-hourglass drum that is also referred to as udukkai is the damru (while in the hands of Shiva).
- ^ "The Udukkai | Milapfest". Retrieved 2019-06-05.