📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / HridoyKundu
Religion
Dhak Drummers Keep Bengal’s Durga Puja Rhythm Alive, Safeguarding Intangible Heritage
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 31 Oct 2026, 03:00 AM
👁 14
During this year’s Durga Puja, traditional dhak players in West Bengal highlighted their role in preserving the festival’s intangible cultural heritage through rhythmic performances.
The resonant beats of the dhak, a traditional barrel‑shaped drum, once again filled the streets of Kolkata as Durga Puja entered its festive climax. These drummers, many of whom belong to families that have passed the skill down for generations, form an essential part of the ritual, signalling the arrival of the goddess and energising the pandal crowds.
Organisers and cultural activists emphasized that the dhak’s rhythmic patterns are recognised as an intangible cultural heritage of Bengal. Community groups have been conducting workshops and mentorship programmes to ensure younger musicians learn the precise strokes and ceremonial protocols that distinguish a puja dhak from other percussion.
Spectators reported that the live drumming not only enhances the visual splendor of the pandals but also reinforces a shared sense of identity among Bengalis worldwide. As urban lifestyles evolve, the continued presence of dhak performances serves as a living link to the region’s folk traditions.
Nevertheless, practitioners face challenges such as dwindling patronage for full‑time drummers and competition from amplified music. To counter this, several puja committees have pledged financial support and dedicated performance slots, hoping to keep the dhak’s authentic sound resonating in future celebrations.
Organisers and cultural activists emphasized that the dhak’s rhythmic patterns are recognised as an intangible cultural heritage of Bengal. Community groups have been conducting workshops and mentorship programmes to ensure younger musicians learn the precise strokes and ceremonial protocols that distinguish a puja dhak from other percussion.
Spectators reported that the live drumming not only enhances the visual splendor of the pandals but also reinforces a shared sense of identity among Bengalis worldwide. As urban lifestyles evolve, the continued presence of dhak performances serves as a living link to the region’s folk traditions.
Nevertheless, practitioners face challenges such as dwindling patronage for full‑time drummers and competition from amplified music. To counter this, several puja committees have pledged financial support and dedicated performance slots, hoping to keep the dhak’s authentic sound resonating in future celebrations.