Hudka is one of the main percussion instruments of Uttarakhand.
The instruments in which leather is used are also called Membranophones. These instruments are used in various musical and cultural activities of Uttarakhand.
Hudka is one of the most important folk instruments of Uttarakhand. It is also the most popular folk instrument of Kumaon. Hudka is used extensively in various festivals, fairs, folk songs, and hudka naach. The Jaggars of Kumaon would not have been complete without Hudkas. Hudkas are an inseparable part of the folk music of Uttarakhand.
There is no clear evidence of the exact period, but these instruments have been used in Uttarakhandi music since time immemorial. Hudkas are now being made by carpenters with modern machines. However, traditionally they were made by the chunde, chunyad, and chaner people of Uttarakhand. Chunyad were originally residents of the Chunada village of Askot in Pithoragarh. They were forced to give up their traditional profession as the traditional things made of wood were out of vogue. However, even today, some of these people are partially engaged in this profession.
Hudka was made by the Chunyad people using Khimar, Khin wood. This wood was also dried by plucking it directly from the tree. Self-dried wood was generally used after falling from the tree, so gum would not come in the hood.
The drain of the hudka, which is made of wood, is called Nali or Nai in the Kumaoni language. Hudka instrument resembles a Damru in its structure but is much larger in size. It is hollow on the inside and is made by drying the membrane of the goat’s stomach. It is then overlaid on both ends of the drain. On this, the rhythm is played by tapping. Its preparation also demands special skills.