"Dhak" for Puja - where to buy in Kolkata?

indracal · Sep 8th, 2009, 12:20

Hi All:

One of my friend is travelling from USA to Kolkata next week for a very short period (5 days) on personal account. He has been entrusted with the bengali community in CA/USA to buy a "Dhak" (photo in the link) for their Durga Puja in USA.

He will be in Kolkata in the Sep'09 2nd week only for 5 days. He would not have time to check up things and look for options and asked me if I know any place where "Dhak" is sold, and any price idea of the same.

As usual, I have no clue! Can any one here URGENTLY help me on:

Place(s) where "Dhak" is sold
Price idea/range for a "Dhak"

Many thanks in advance for all your inputs!

mousourik · Sep 8th, 2009, 12:24

You may enquire at stores that sell musical instruments.

theyyamdancer · Sep 8th, 2009, 12:38

Take a look at this musical shop in Kolkata:

http://www.dwarkin.com/

indracal · Sep 8th, 2009, 12:39

Do you mean the area beside Lalbazar Police HQ?

I have seen a couple of shops there selling various instruments, and some of them are supposed to be very old, authentic and famous as well, though shops may look a bit dingy.

Did any one notice "Dhak" there? And any other places that you may think of?

<<cross-posted with TDancer>>

Thanks for the link TD, will browse it now!

indracal · Sep 8th, 2009, 13:03

Had a talk with Dwarkin ppl, they don't sell it. They suggested walking down to Chitpore area, which might have Dhaks on sale.

Good pointer and thanks TD!

Any specific information about the places/prices would be appreciated.

theyyamdancer · Sep 8th, 2009, 13:07

You're most welcome, Indracal! (I had found that address on IndiaMike by the way through a search.) A google search throws up quite a long list of musical shops in Kolkata by the way. Good luck and let us know what you find. Happy pujas.

indracal · Sep 8th, 2009, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by theyyamdancer

I had found that address on IndiaMike by the way through a search.

Eeks...I searched with the word Dhak, and I didn't get anything. Should've searched "Musical instrument Kolkata" or something like that! I am generally okay with searches TD, but it's a gloomy morning y'know

!

kausiks · Sep 8th, 2009, 18:03

By next week, Dhakis(persons who play dhak) will be all over Kolkata. May be you spend an hour outside Sealdah station where they assemble every day and they can tell you where they source their dhak from. But since your friend will be here for only 5 days, this might be difficult to do...

indracal · Sep 8th, 2009, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by kausiks

since your friend will be here for only 5 days, this might be difficult to do...

Yep! That's the whole issue - otherwise I could've tried that option!

chief61 · Sep 9th, 2009, 21:50

Sadly enough none of the musical shops sells "Dhak",
obvious reason demand is very limited .

If your Friend is really interested take him to Nottopara, in the Ashoknagar Kalyangarh area of North 24 Parganas district, is a locality of dhakis, who came as refugees from East Bengal. The locality is named after them, and some thirty-five to forty families live there, some of the Nottos make dhaks. A dhak made of mango wood and goat skin sells for around Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500.
There is another Nattapara in Hooghly district, a remote village in Balagarh block. There are some 100 dhakis in the village. There is not a single family without a dhaki. All used to go out to work as dhakis during the festive season, but now the demand has declined to such an extent that many are forced to give up the traditional profession and work as wage labourers.

Cheers

indracal · Sep 9th, 2009, 22:40

@Chief61 - Great info, many thanks!

I'll see if he can manage time, and I have already forwarded the link to him. He is overwhelmed in the response

.

IM Zindabad!

indracal · Oct 2nd, 2009, 04:21

Hi - to update all IMers, my friend managed to buy a DHAK from Kalighat area (shop named Sangam) at 6900.00 INR. The DHAK is now at CA, US - and has been pretty nostalgic for the bengalis there am sure.

He had his father look for it and make an advance booking. As it was raining, the shop was'nt ready to make a DHAK without advance. They apparently said that they get customers who want to buy and place order (without advance) and don't take delivery if it is around/after a rainy spell, which changes the sound of the DHAK.

He would be mailing me the address and I'll post the same here.

chief61 · Oct 3rd, 2009, 12:55

Great !!!

Sep 8th, 2009, 12:20	#1
indracal Wanderlust - but bills bug! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 514	"Dhak" for Puja - where to buy in Kolkata? Hi All: One of my friend is travelling from USA to Kolkata next week for a very short period (5 days) on personal account. He has been entrusted with the bengali community in CA/USA to buy a "Dhak" (photo in the link) for their Durga Puja in USA. He will be in Kolkata in the Sep'09 2nd week only for 5 days. He would not have time to check up things and look for options and asked me if I know any place where "Dhak" is sold, and any price idea of the same. As usual, I have no clue! Can any one here URGENTLY help me on: Place(s) where "Dhak" is sold Price idea/range for a "Dhak" Many thanks in advance for all your inputs! __________________ Did you wear the other person's shoe today?

Sep 8th, 2009, 12:38	#3
theyyamdancer lost in Mechuka member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 4,426	Take a look at this musical shop in Kolkata: http://www.dwarkin.com/ __________________ "Wandering seemed no more than the happiness of an anxious man." - Albert Camus

Sep 8th, 2009, 12:39	#4
indracal Wanderlust - but bills bug! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 514	Musical instrument stores at Lalbazar? Do you mean the area beside Lalbazar Police HQ? I have seen a couple of shops there selling various instruments, and some of them are supposed to be very old, authentic and famous as well, though shops may look a bit dingy. Did any one notice "Dhak" there? And any other places that you may think of? <<cross-posted with TDancer>> Thanks for the link TD, will browse it now! Last edited by indracal : Sep 8th, 2009 at 12:57. Reason: cross-posted with TD

Sep 8th, 2009, 13:03	#5
indracal Wanderlust - but bills bug! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 514	Thanks TD! Had a talk with Dwarkin ppl, they don't sell it. They suggested walking down to Chitpore area, which might have Dhaks on sale. Good pointer and thanks TD! Any specific information about the places/prices would be appreciated.

Sep 8th, 2009, 18:03	#8
kausiks Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 308	By next week, Dhakis(persons who play dhak) will be all over Kolkata. May be you spend an hour outside Sealdah station where they assemble every day and they can tell you where they source their dhak from. But since your friend will be here for only 5 days, this might be difficult to do... __________________ The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.

Sep 8th, 2009, 12:24	#2
mousourik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: KOLKATA, INDIA Posts: 1,515	You may enquire at stores that sell musical instruments.

Sep 8th, 2009, 13:07	#6
theyyamdancer lost in Mechuka member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 4,426	You're most welcome, Indracal! (I had found that address on IndiaMike by the way through a search.) A google search throws up quite a long list of musical shops in Kolkata by the way. Good luck and let us know what you find. Happy pujas.

Sep 9th, 2009, 21:50	#10
chief61 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 270	Sadly enough none of the musical shops sells "Dhak", obvious reason demand is very limited . If your Friend is really interested take him to Nottopara, in the Ashoknagar Kalyangarh area of North 24 Parganas district, is a locality of dhakis, who came as refugees from East Bengal. The locality is named after them, and some thirty-five to forty families live there, some of the Nottos make dhaks. A dhak made of mango wood and goat skin sells for around Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500. There is another Nattapara in Hooghly district, a remote village in Balagarh block. There are some 100 dhakis in the village. There is not a single family without a dhaki. All used to go out to work as dhakis during the festive season, but now the demand has declined to such an extent that many are forced to give up the traditional profession and work as wage labourers. Cheers __________________ Rainbow Warrior

Sep 9th, 2009, 22:40	#11
indracal Wanderlust - but bills bug! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 514	@Chief61 - Great info, many thanks! I'll see if he can manage time, and I have already forwarded the link to him. He is overwhelmed in the response . IM Zindabad!

Oct 2nd, 2009, 04:21	#12
indracal Wanderlust - but bills bug! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 514	Dhak purchased from Kalighat Hi - to update all IMers, my friend managed to buy a DHAK from Kalighat area (shop named Sangam) at 6900.00 INR. The DHAK is now at CA, US - and has been pretty nostalgic for the bengalis there am sure. He had his father look for it and make an advance booking. As it was raining, the shop was'nt ready to make a DHAK without advance. They apparently said that they get customers who want to buy and place order (without advance) and don't take delivery if it is around/after a rainy spell, which changes the sound of the DHAK. He would be mailing me the address and I'll post the same here.

Oct 3rd, 2009, 12:55	#13
chief61 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 270	Great !!!

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