The Drummer from Odisha
1st April is Odisha State Day

S Balakrishnan *

Life-sized drummer

It was love at first sight!

I was scouting for handicrafts of Odisha as the deadline for proceeding on transfer from Orissa (it was Orissa back in 1983) was nearing. And Odisha abounds in handicrafts. The Sun Temple in Konark and the countless temples in Bhubaneswar stand as testimony to this fact.

A small statue of a lady drummer attracted my attention – a beautiful replica of such a lady drummer statue in the Sun Temple. Without any second thought I bought it for 160 rupees from the Puri Zilla Palli Silpi & Silpa Vikash Co-op Stores near Bhubaneswar railway station.

About 15” tall and 4 1/2” wide, this statue is the heaviest so far in my humble collection. 160 rupees was indeed a hefty amount forty years back in 1983 but I never had a chance to regret buying her because she continues to enchant even after forty years.

The Konark Sun Temple has an array of female musicians playing on various musical instruments like veena, different types of drums, pipes, flutes and cymbals. They vary in size, from small to medium to more than life-sized.

In the tower that stands majestically, there are said to be sixteen such more than life-sized statues. They are full of youth and seem to enjoy playing the instruments with confidence and delight. Their poise is in harmony with the rhythm of their music. The showroom had such big statues as well but I could afford only this small drummer.

Bhoga Mandap statue

In Konark, the bhoga mandap that stands before the main temple also has carvings of musicians but they are small but full of detail. One such female musician is seen happily dancing to the tune of her dholak.

This bhoga mandap is erroneously called the nata (dance) mandir as it proliferates with carvings of musicians and dancers who take you back to the period when the Sun Temple was under worship and music and dance flowed freely.

The mandap has lost its roof but the pillars are exquisitely carved. As if to recall those days an annual music & dance festival is held at the Sun Temple premises, which is in my long bucket list.

Till then I have to contend with the music and dance movements of this 40-year-old Lady Drummer!

Well, if Vyjayanthimala Bali can enthrall us with her dance at the age of 90, why not this Lady Drummer!