The Drummer from Odisha

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The Drummer from Odisha

1st April is Odisha State Day

S Balakrishnan *


 Life-sized drummer

Life-sized drummer

It was love at first sight!

I used to be scouting for handicrafts of Odisha because the deadline for continuing on switch from Orissa (it was Orissa again in 1983) was nearing. And Odisha abounds in handicrafts. The Solar Temple in Konark and the numerous temples in Bhubaneswar stand as testimony to this reality.

A small statue of a girl drummer attracted my consideration – an attractive reproduction of such a girl drummer statue within the Solar Temple. With none second thought I purchased it for 160 rupees from the Puri Zilla Palli Silpi & Silpa Vikash Co-op Shops close to Bhubaneswar railway station.

About 15” tall and 4 1/2” vast, this statue is the heaviest thus far in my humble assortment. 160 rupees was certainly a hefty quantity forty years again in 1983 however I by no means had an opportunity to remorse shopping for her as a result of she continues to enchant even after forty years.

The Konark Solar Temple has an array of feminine musicians enjoying on varied musical devices like veena, several types of drums, pipes, flutes and cymbals. They range in measurement, from small to medium to greater than life-sized.

Within the tower that stands majestically, there are stated to be sixteen such greater than life-sized statues. They’re stuffed with youth and appear to get pleasure from enjoying the devices with confidence and delight. Their poise is in concord with the rhythm of their music. The showroom had such massive statues as properly however I might afford solely this small drummer.


  Bhoga Mandap statue

Bhoga Mandap statue

In Konark, the bhoga mandap that stands earlier than the principle temple additionally has carvings of musicians however they’re small however stuffed with element. One such feminine musician is seen fortunately dancing to the tune of her dholak.

This bhoga mandap is erroneously referred to as the nata (dance) mandir because it proliferates with carvings of musicians and dancers who take you again to the interval when the Solar Temple was beneath worship and music and dance flowed freely.

The mandap has misplaced its roof however the pillars are exquisitely carved. As if to recall these days an annual music & dance pageant is held on the Solar Temple premises, which is in my lengthy bucket listing.

Until then I’ve to cope with the music and dance actions of this 40-year-old Woman Drummer!

Effectively, if Vyjayanthimala Bali can enthrall us together with her dance on the age of 90, why not this Woman Drummer!


* S Balakrishnan wrote this text for e-pao.web

The author is from Chennai and may be reached at krishnanbala2004(AT)yahoo(DOT)co(DOT)in

This text was webcasted on March 30 2024.


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