The centuries-old tradition of drumming is flourishing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), adding charm and vibrancy to weddings, birthday parties, and other festive occasions, despite the rapid rise of social media and digital entertainment in Pakistan.
As social media and information technology continue to grow, dhol players are witnessing a booming business, especially during wedding season, birthdays, and various other celebrations in Peshawar. The drop in temperature during the winter months has further fueled the demand for these traditional drummers.
Zulfiqar Khan, a 48-year-old dhol player, regularly comes to Peshawar Cantonment, where he sets up at the Fakhar e Alam Road square, ready to offer his services for weddings, birthday parties, and other festive events, particularly on weekends.
“I started drumming 21 years ago after my father’s death. I come to Fakhar Alam Road’s green shadi hall square from Gulbahar, hoping to earn a good income on Saturdays and Sundays,” Zulfiqar shared with APP.
Drummers, like Zulfiqar, are hopeful that the winter season will bring more happiness and opportunities for their community, as the season typically sees an increase in weddings, engagements, and other festivities. However, they also face challenges due to rising costs. “The price of a dhol, including the beating plates, has increased from Rs 20,000 two years ago to Rs 32,000 today,” Zulfiqar explained. He also mentioned that when a dhol is damaged, it has significant financial repercussions for drummers, especially the poorer ones.
During the monsoon season, the traditional skin-beating plates of the dhol are affected by moisture, while in the summer heat, they suffer damage as well. Many drummers now use imported plastic plates that are more durable and last longer.
Shareef Gul, another dhol player from Lahore, expressed pride in his profession, which he said has allowed him to send his children to university. He noted that drummers are often preferred over DJs for events because it is more affordable and doesn’t require electricity or expensive equipment.
Known as “Ustad” in his community, Shareef shared, “I’ve sent two of my dhols for repair, and the third one, which I inherited from my elder brother, is still used for weddings, birthday parties, mehndi ceremonies, political gatherings, and other celebratory events.”
He is optimistic that his business will continue to grow through the winter months. “A dhol player’s earnings depend on the financial situation of the clients. Sometimes we earn Rs 5,000, and other times we make Rs 20,000 per event on weekends,” Shareef said. Typically, a pair of dhol players charge around Rs 2,000 per program.
On weekends, traditional drummers can be found waiting for customers at popular spots like Ghandhara and Hayatabad Chowk, where they are hired for various festivals.
Even with the availability of advanced music equipment and DJs, people are still willing to pay thousands of rupees for the unique touch that traditional drumming brings to their weddings and events. “I came to the green shadi hall chowk to hire a pair of dhol players for my son’s engagement. It was more affordable than hiring DJs and could easily be performed at both indoor and outdoor functions,” said Fayaz Khan, a resident of Wapda Town, Nowshera.
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