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THAMATE VAADANA

It is very clear why playing thamate is reserved for untouchable castes only. Thamate (also called halage) is prepared by the skin of cow or buffalo. First the dead cow must be skinned. The skin must be tanned and treated to be able to make ready for mounting on thamate ring. All this has to be done by a person from untouchable caste. Except for muslims only untouchables eat beef which makes thamate unique only to daliths.

There is an old saying “there no house without a hearth; No village without thamate/ halage” Almost all special cultural celebrations of the rural life must have thamate. Without thamate there is no celebratory air for any festivel, gools procession, village fair, car festival, Karaga etc.,

Preparation of thamate appears very simple. But one must have exquisite knowledge of how to prepare the skin. When the skin is ready it is spread on a circular wooden bangle and tied to it with the threads made from the same skin. To hold it on the shoulder a shoulder strip is tied to the thamate. A thin long stick is held in the fingers of the left hand and a thick round stick in the right hand is used to play thamate.

The skin is made teu by heating it over the fire before playing and also in between the performance. This gives it a very sharp sound which is hair raising when you hear the rhythmic play. More than that it prompts people to dance. That is the speciality of thamate.

Thamate is used in all parts of Karnataka except kodagu and coastal Karnataka. Shapes and siges differ from region to region. From a small one and a half feet thamate there are thamates as large as eight feet in diameter.

Thamate/ Halage is slung on the left shoulder. It is pressed against the left side of the chest by left hand whose fingers play the long thin stick creating a sharp rhythmic sound. A foot long round stick the right hand moves vigorously beating in tandem with the small long stick. Together they create a music that is hair raising prompting people to dance. The pit (Galabani) which is used to tan, colour and the skin pliable and process the cow meet has many detailed instructions in the Jaanapada literature of untouchables. These unique details are available only in the Jaanapadiya purana texts of Daliths.

In north Karnataka four to six Tamate artists get together and perform. In south thaja, thukum, Nagari, Thase, Kunimini and Donus are added to Thamate group. In north Karnataka thamate playing mela are known as Halage Majalu. Halage baaji, Halage madalasi etc., Sanadi, Tharse dimmu, takuri, jagate and other instruments are added to tamate mela. Deenabaaju. Hanumanthappa Gathu, Kudure Gathu, Navar Hejje, Soubathes, Devara Gathu, Bukala, chitrata are the Various styles associated with beating of the thamate. For Karaga dance they use three beat style. Whatever be the style the people watching thamate performance involuntarily begin to dance to the beat of thamate.

In eastern plains of Karnataka during the harvesting tamate is used to encourage workers  to work faster. Now a days in political  procession, and protest meeting tamate has become a present feature. The main reason for its use is its high decibel rhythmic sound which can reach veers for and attract  the attention of people easily, lying down on the stomach  to play thamate and lifting needle, currency note, coin without touching them, playing thamate between leg and dancing are some of their special accomplishments. Jugalbandi where two troups competing with each trying to fox one another with unusual  beats is a great hair raising experience to watch.

There is a legend about a great thamate player. He was going somewhere to perform. Halfway through he suddenly remembered that he was supposed to give an important message to his wife. Impatient to walk back to the house he beat the thamte in such a way as to Canvey the message to his  wife. In moodala seeme ( south east of Karnataka) you core across a number of stories like this. Thamate artists of kolar and Bangalore rural have played in national and international forum brining name and fame to their art. In north Karnataka a small thamate called Khani is played by the castes other than untouchables.

Thamate playing is verd important in all stages of life from birth to death and in all announcements and celebrations of the village. Refusal to play thamate is not acceptable by the villagers. It invites the wrath of the village and Daliths have faced social boycott in many places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated: 13-06-2023 01:26 PM Updated By: Creator


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