RANGPUR: The beats of the dhak are an integral part of Durga Puja, adding to the festive spirit, especially during arati, the worship ritual. But a shortage of professional dhakis across Rangpur division is threatening this age-old tradition. Many temple committees are struggling to find dhakis, with some buying dhaks and asking their own members to play them.
Dhakis blame the shortage on a lack of year-round work and declining interest among younger generations. Many have taken up other occupations, while the growing number of puja mandaps has made it harder for rural temples to find experienced drummers.
According to the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Durga Puja is being celebrated at 5,136 mandaps across the division’s eight districts this year, up from around 3,000 in 2010.
At Namurihat Central Durga Temple in Lalmonirhat’s Aditmari upazila, the temple committee failed to hire a dhaki despite an extensive search. It spent Tk 6,000 on a dhak, which members are now taking turns playing.
Committee member Nirmal Chandra Roy said a professional dhaki charges Tk 12,000-15,000 for the festival period.
“The dhak we bought for Tk 6,000 can be used for three to four years. Committee members are taking turns playing it, but the dhak is not always played at the right times,” he said.
In Singardabari, in Kurigram’s Rajarhat upazila, a temple committee that paid Tk 13,000 for a drummer last year failed to find a professional this year and instead spent Tk 8,000 on a dhak.
“Playing the dhak is essential to the festival. With no professional available, we have been forced to take turns playing it ourselves,” said committee member Abinash Chandra Barman.
In Milonpur village of Rangpur’s Taraganj upazila, committee members are also playing the instrument themselves.
“Although we have saved the cost of hiring a drummer, the dhak is not played at the temple on time,” said committee member Ranjit Chandra Roy.
He said the dhak could not be played at the appropriate times, particularly during arati, the worship ritual, due to the shortage of professional dhakis.
The professional drummers blame the decline of their profession on economic uncertainty. Although demand rises during Durga Puja, work is scarce for the rest of the year, forcing many to seek other livelihoods.
Babul Chandra Das, who has played the dhak at Lalmonirhat town’s central Kalibari Sree Sree Durga and Kali Temple for 15 years, said many had left the profession because they could not earn a steady income.
“Most people in our profession have left. There is little work throughout the year, although demand rises during Durga Puja. Only a handful of temples have professional dhakis. Many others rely on seasonal performers, while some committees are buying dhaks and asking members to play them,” Babul said.
Sukhen Das, a designated dhaki at a puja mandap in Rangpur city’s Mulatol area, said drummers earn Tk 15,000-20,000 at urban temples during Durga Puja, compared with Tk 8,000-10,000 at rural mandaps.
“The shortage will become more severe in the coming years. One day, our profession may disappear altogether,” he said.
