Collected at Lake Pokhara, West, Nepal

Brahmin and Chhetri ethnic groups

Wood, metal, iguana skin, cloth rope
Early – Mid 20th century
Diameter: 9.25 in
Membranophones – Stuck Membranophones

This Nepalese small frame drum called khanjari, consists of an iguana skin stretched across a carved wooden shell and attached by wooden pegs (posts) as seen on the underside. These smaller hand drums are used by members of the Brahmin and Chhetri ethnic groups in devotional music known as bhajan.  A second example in this collection comes from the Rajasthan people with its inset of small cymbals.

Large examples like this, are often used in the accompaniment of dances known as chudka and kauda, which are performed by members of the Magar, Gurung, and other indigenous communities in Mid-Western Nepal during social activities.

Sources:  Khañjari | Nepalese | The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum.org);  “Khanjari,”  Alastair Dick, Genevive Dournon, “The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments,” 2nd Ed., Vol 3, Laurence Libin, Editor in Chief.