The traditional nagara drum at the Muthupettai mosque in Thiruvarur district. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
For as long as they can remember, residents of the coastal town of Muthupettai in Tiruvarur district have heard a distinct booming drum beat from the mosque adjoining the Sheikh Dawood Kamil Valiyulla Dargah, alerting them to the upcoming ‘azaan’ (call to prayer) five times a day at regular intervals from dawn to nightfall.
The sound emanates from an ancient ‘nagara’, a kettle drum famous for its thunderous tone.
“Even though we use a microphone to broadcast the azaan, we prefer to use the ‘nagara’ to let the faithful know that it is time to pray,” S.S. Bakar Ali Sahib, president and hereditary trustee of the Muthupettai dargah committee, told The Hindu.
The drum is kept in a separate place on the premises, and operated with two specially carved wooden sticks by the ‘mothinar’, who also recites the ‘azaan’ in the mosque. Its hollow circular brass base is covered with cattle hide that is tightly stretched and secured to the edges with rope. A heavy wooden stand helps to maintain its stability.
