Drum consisting of a blue-painted short metal cylinder, with membrane of animal hide at one end. Drum is bound with yellow, orange-flecked man-made fibre cord (nylon?) which is attached through holes in the membranes. Attached strap is of woven yellow vegetable fibre cloth.
The thappu drum is the leading instrument in the cettia vadyam or thappe melam ensemble for the celebrations marking different festivals during the agricultural year in Kerala, such as the rice harvest. The thappu also features in some Christian festival music. The drummer holds the instrument by the yellow cloth strap, wound around the wrist and fingers of his left hand. The tapered stick (2002.286.2) is held in the right hand. The drummer also dances, usually holding the thappu at chest height, and the drum is also played over the head or on the floor.
