The Tokari ( Assamese: টোকাৰী) is a stringed instrument played with the fingertips. The Tokari is the most widely used and popular stringed instruments in different parts of

Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...

. It is an ancient folk instrument of Assam. The instrument is usually made by covering a shell of Mango or Cham wood with the skin of a

goat The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a species of Caprinae, goat-antelope that is mostly kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the ...

. It has many similarities to the "Dotara", another such folk instrument prevalent in southern Assam. The Tokari is slightly larger and wider than the Dotora. It also has many similarities to the Ruan, a Chinese musical instrument.

Etymology

It is believed that the name ''Tokari'' derives from the Assamese word "tokar" ( Assamese: টোকৰ), meaning the sound produced by knocking.

Uses

Tokari is usually played with Tokari geet. A tokari can be also played with

Dihanaam Dihanaam is a type of congregational prayer sung by women in Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam cov ...

, Deh Bichar Geet, Bairagi geet, Phul Kowar aru Mani Konwaror geet, Maniram Dewanor geet, Assamese religious songs, Jikir and Jari etc.

References

Music of Assam Indian musical instruments {{String-instrument-stub