Singing and dancing in Santals are the most important part of life, without which their living and tradition can't be imagined. The instruments are played in every occasion of cheers. Their folklore, folk songs rests at their instruments.
Below we've provided some resources to introduce with those instruments such asTamak, Tumda, Sakwa, Dhak, Banam and Tiriyo respectively.
Tiriyo
Banam
Tamak (Drum)
Tamak : Santal musical instrument
The structure of the drum (like hollow half globe but tapering downwards)is made of iron plates. The upper side is covered with raw hide of buffalo. Ropes made of raw hide is used for applying tension for stretching the raw hide. Tamaks are made in different sizes as per requirement. Some can only be lifted with two persons and some are carried in bullock cart. The bigger ones are used during Sendra or mass hunting. Small and medium sizes are drummed by a person with two drum sticks for dances like lagne, dong, baha, dahar and all other forms of dances.
Tumda
The structure of this instrument is made of burnt clay. It is cylindrical in shape with left side being wider than right. This hollow shape is tappered from left to right decreasingly. Bullock skin is used for covering the left side and the goat skin is used for covering the right side. Single instrument s is played by one man. This instrument is used at all social events except during the death rituals.
Sakwa
It is a trumpet made of bufallo's horn or antelopes horn. This is used exclusively during the baha & mag mane (both religious festival) and at Sendra Bir (mass hunting).
Tiriyo
This is made of a narrow hollow bamboo. Its best size ranges from four hundred fifty to six hundred fifty mm in length and twenty to twenty five mm in diameter. Both or one side may be open. A Triya has five circular holes on the surface one being for air blowing purpose and the other four (closely situated) for controlling the flow of air for different notes.
Banam
Banam can either be made from a solid wooden block or can be prepared by joining differnet parts. Banam made of wooden is broader at one end and narrower at the other end. The narrower side is used as handle. Threads made of long hairs of horse is used to join both the ends. The broader end is made hollow and covered with thin leather. A stick is tied with the horse hair thread to make a small bow and is held in right hand. The wooden part is held in left side and it is played with the string held in right hand. Salga gum is pasted at the side of the wooden part which is applied to the theads of horse hair for generating necessary friction. Coconut shell is also used as substitute to the wooden block. This can accompany any song.
Dhak
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