The Drummers (2015-16)

Durga Puja, a grand festival of Bengalees, is not complete without the rhythm of Dhak -- a large iconic drum with rhythmic patterns that are distinct from other percussion instruments. Dhakis (Drummers) are traditional drummers who play the dhak (drum) during Hindu festivals, primarily in Eastern India and Bangladesh. Drum beats are an integral part of the five-day-long annual festivities associated with Durga Puja.

Bengali communities outside Bengal get dhakis from the state during Durga Puja. About 750 dakhis from Malda, Midnapore, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts travel across India to perform. Not all of them find work, and some return empty-handed. About 600 of them are brought in by various pandals, which provide them with food and lodging. Others hang around on sidewalks to get hired. They are generally landless farmers and play the dhak in their villages when they have time to spare. Freelance dhakis earn an average of Rs. 4,000 from organisers for the season and around Rs. 3,000 in tips.

The dhakis routinely suffer police harassment to reach the capital with their large dhaks. Even after checking with metal detectors for guns and bombs, the police do not allow them to go unless they bribe them. The return journey is more hazardous because they have money in their pockets.

They spend the festive season away from their family and friends. Relatives eagerly wait for their return with some earnings. But unfortunately, most of them come back with very little. They need to pay for food, travel and other expenses. Here is the story of the drummers outside Bengal during Durga Puja.

A close-up, black and white photograph of two large, traditional Bengali dhak drums in the foreground, with two young male dhaki drummers sitting in the blurred background, resting.
Black and white photograph of three men, two carrying large dhol drums on their shoulders, walking away on an illuminated overhead pedestrian bridge at night, with another man with a backpack in the foreground.
Black and white portrait of a stern-faced man, a traditional dhak drum filling the frame in front of him, looking directly at the camera from inside an auto-rickshaw.
A wide-angle, black and white photograph showing a group of traditional Bengali dhaki drummers sleeping or resting on a public sidewalk under a makeshift canopy, with their dhak drums beside them, during Durga Puja.
A black and white, wide-angle photograph showing a group of traditional Bengali dhaki drummers resting and interacting in a makeshift outdoor space, with their dhak drums nearby. One drummer looks directly at the camera.
A close-up, black and white photograph of a pair of worn flip-flops on a pavement, with the bare feet of a person and the blurred fabric of traditional attire visible in the background, symbolizing rest and a journey.
A black and white close-up of two large, traditional Bengali dhak drums, covered with fabric, leaning against a rough textured wall on a sidewalk. A travel bag and a cooking pot are also visible, suggesting the transient life of the drummers.
A dynamic, black and white photograph captures several traditional Bengali dhaki drummers, some holding their large drums, practicing or engaging in a rhythmic interaction outdoors, surrounded by trees and a metal fence.
Black and white photograph inside a cluttered, modest room showing a person sleeping under a mosquito net on a bed, with an old cooler and clothes nearby.
Black and white photograph of a young man intently working on tightening the ropes of a large dhak drum on the floor, while an older man sits in the background.
A candid, black and white photograph showing a group of traditional Bengali dhaki drummers resting on the floor of a makeshift accommodation, surrounded by their belongings, during Durga Puja. Some are sleeping, others are conversing, and a large idol of a goddess in progress stands in the background.
A close-up, black and white photograph showing the hands of a traditional Bengali dhaki drummer holding a stick and a metallic beating disc, locally known as 'Kansor Ghanta', with a large dhak drum blurred in the background.
A close-up, black and white photograph showing several decorated dhak drums, adorned with floral and feathery embellishments, hanging in a row, possibly in a temple or performance space.
Black and white photograph showing a group of drummers sleeping on the floor next to their large dhak drums, with Durga idols partially visible in the background.
Black and white close-up portrait of two men, one in sharp focus looking upwards with a contemplative expression, and another blurred in the background.
Black and white, low-angle close-up of a drummer's bare feet and lower legs in traditional attire, with blurred figures and a festival backdrop in the background.
Black and white long-exposure photograph showing blurred figures of drummers in motion playing dhaks in front of a brightly lit Durga idol tableau inside a pandal.
Black and white photograph of a man with a traditional conical instrument in his mouth and a small bowl balanced on his head, seated next to a large dhak drum in front of brightly decorated Durga Puja idols.
A low-angle, black and white photograph of a man in traditional attire playing a large dhol drum, viewed from below on a stage with decorative lighting.
Black and white wide-angle photograph of several men in traditional attire, one smiling at the camera, standing around a large decorated cylindrical dhak drum. Ornate Durga Puja idols are visible in the background.
Black and white photograph of several male drummers intensely playing large dhol drums in front of brightly lit, ornate Durga Puja idol statues at night.