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The Pakhavaj, also called Mardal, Pakhawaj, Pakuaj, Pakhvaj, Pakavaj or Mardala, is an Indian barrel-shaped, two-headed drum, the North Indian equivalent to the Southern mridangam. It is the standard percussion instrument in the dhrupad style and is widely used as an accompaniment for various forms of music and dance performances. The pakhavaj has a low, mellow tone, very rich in harmonics. Set horizontally on a cushion in front of the drummer's crossed leg, the larger bass-skin is played with the left hand, the treble skin by the right hand. Goatskin drum-heads are fixed to the hollow barrel by means of looped leather thongs. Eight pieces of two-inch wooden dowel (gatthe) are hammered tight between thongs and barrel.
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The "treble" skin is constructed in a three-tiered concentric design, the innermost being composed of a dense black hardened paste (sihayi), a mixture of simple wheat flour and fine iron filings semi-permanently affixed to the second, the main skin. The pakhavaj bears resemblance to the Carnatic mridangam, however, it is not as notably barrel shaped and resembles the Tabla, in its gatthe and siyahi. As with the tabla, the pakhawaj rhythms are taught by a series of mnemonic syllables known as bol. In traditional pakhavaj-styles a student would learn a number of different strokes which produce a specific sound. These are remembered and practiced with corresponding syllables.
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