Khartal: India musical instrument

A khartal is a percussion musical instrument of India.

source of picture: en.wikipedia.org

Khartal is an old musical instrument that is primarily used in devotional and folk music. The musical instrument has derived its name from Hindi words ‘kara’ meaning hand and ‘tala’ meaning clapping. This wooden instrument is a Ghana Vadya that has disc or plates that manufacture a clinching tune when clapped together. The musical instrument is classified to be an idiophone of self-sounding musical instrument that has the combined properties of vibrator and resonator.

The musical instrument is often manufactured of wood or metal. A player of the musical instrument will hold one male version of the instrument and a female version of the musical instrument in each hand. The male version of the instrument is often thicker and is held with the thumb while the female version of the instrument is often thinner and is mainly balanced on the ring finger that signifies the fire element. The musical instrument is linked with the sun and the root chakra. The force of the instrument gives staying power, stamina and the power to be self-confident.

The earliest version of the musical instrument has a wooden castanets with bells affixed to them. These pieces of wood are not connected in any way. Meanwhile, they can be clapped together at high speeds to make rapid complex rhythms. Apart from being a good accompaniment musical instrument, the khartal is most portable percussion musical instrument that is found in the world.