Mridanga

Mridanga (Sans., Beng., Kan.) [Sans. mrd, clay], the classical drum of S. India, of elongated barrel shape with heads of different diams. Essentially the same as the *khol, from which it differs only in having a wooden body, despite its name. The shell is hollowed out of a block of wood; both heads are fastened to hoops and tightened by leather thongs laced from end to end. The heads are tuned by tension wedges and the application of tuning paste. The right head receives a permanent application…