Tarpa

Warli, an ancient tribe of Western India, lives in the Vindhya and Satpura hill ranges. In Maharashtra, they are concentrated in western districts of Nasik and Thana with a population of about four hundred thousands. They play an interesting musical instrument called Tarpa. It is made with the thick skin of a whole gourd into which a bamboo pipe with finger holes is inserted to form a wind instrument. It is decorated with colorful threads and the fronds appear like the feather of a peacock. The harvest dance that is centered around this musical instrument is called Tarpa dance. It is performed in the month of September/October with the belief that the dance will impart necessary vitality to the growing crops for a rich harvest. Men and women both wearing colorful costumes and decorated with leaves and flowers dance usually in circular formation with, the Tarpa player at the center. Tarpa is generally played by an old man who has gained expertise in the art of playing it. Through his control of the instrument, he provides variations in the tempo of the dance.