South India
Indian

Clay, metal, cloth
Mid 20th century
Height: 14 in (w/cushion), Top diameter: 5.5 in, Overall diameter: 11 in
Idiophones – Struck Idiophones – Slit Gongs 

The ghatam is an earthen (clay) pot with a narrow mouth which slants outward to a ridge and a big belly.  It is used in south Indian classical music as a secondary instrument, with the mridangam.  The ghatam is one of the most ancient percussion instruments in India.  In north Indian it is called gata and is used for accompanying folk music.  Nevertheless, in south India it has a place of honor with the classical (Carnatic) music.

This ghatam was manufactured in Mana Madurai, a place near Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu, South India. The body is bowl-like with a round bottom that sits on a thick donut shaped cushion covered in purple fabric with white dots. The drum is reddish orange in color, and the lip has a small incision around the edge for decoration. It is a heavy, thick pot with tiny shards of brass mixed into the clay. This type of ghaṭam is harder to play but produces a sharp metallic ringing sound which distinguishes it from a regular clay flowerpot.  It is played with both hands and wrists, all the fingers and thumbs and the nails.  The mouth of the pot is pressed against the stomach and the strokes made at the neck, the center and the bottom of the outer surface to achieve varied tonal sounds.