The
udukkai,
udukai or
udukku (
Tamil: உடுக்கை) is a member of the family of
membranophone percussion instruments of India and Nepal used in
folk music and prayers in
Tamil Nadu. The drums are an ancient design of hourglass drums similar to the northern
damaru and southern
idakka. Its shape is similar to other Indian
hourglass drums, having a small snare stretched over one side. They are played with the bare hand, and the pitch may be tered by squeezing the lacing in the middle. It is made of wood or brass and is very portable.
[1] It originated in
Tamil Nadu as well. Other members in the family include the
huruk,
hurkî,
hurko,
hudko or
hudka,
utukkai.
