The ''gogona'' is a type of jaw harp, a vibrating

reed Reed or Reeds may refer to: Science, technology, biology, and medicine * Reed bird (disambiguation) * Reed pen, writing implement in use since ancient times * Reed (plant), one of several tall, grass-like wetland plants of the order Poales * ...

instrument that is used primarily in the traditional

Bihu Bihu is a set of three important Assamese festivals in the Indian state of Assam – 'Rongali' or 'Bohag Bihu' observed in April, 'Kongali' or 'Kati Bihu' observed in October, and 'Bhogali' or 'Magh Bihu' observed in January. The Rongali Bihu i ...

music in

Assam Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...

. In Boro language, it is known as ''Gongina''. It is made of a piece of

bamboo Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, ...

/ horn that has a bifurcation on one end. The solid end is gripped with the teeth and the free ends are then struck repeatedly with the fingers to emit the distinctive sound of the ''gogona''. It was originally developed in ancient China(

Kouxian ''Kouxian'' () is a general Chinese term for any variety of jaw harp. The jaw harp is a plucked idiophone in which the lamella is mounted in a small frame, and the player's open mouth serves as a resonance chamber. Chinese jaw harps may comp ...

) and passed on to the Sino-Tibetan tribes who migrated to Assam, now chiefly used by the Sadiyal Kacharis(Chutias, Deoris, Sonowals).

Types

* Ramdhan Gogona is generally played by men. It is shorter, wider and slightly heavier than the Lahori Gogona, to fit properly in a typical man's hand. This instrument is often tucked in a tongali tied around the performer's waist or in a vivid Gamusa tied around the head like other instruments like Bahi ( Flute),

Xutuli Xutuli is a musical instrument used during the Bihu#Rongali Bihu, Rongali Bihu festival in Assam, India. It can either be made from clay or the lower end of a bamboo tree which is left after the main part falls or is cut off. Description The in ...

etc. * Lahori GogonaMusical Instruments
, Enajori.com is made to fit a woman's hand, so it is slightly slimmer and longer than the Ramdhan Gogona. It is generally tucked into a hair knot while performing the vibrant

Bihu dance The Bihu dance is an indigenous folk dance from the Indian state of Assam related to the Bihu festival and an important part of Assamese culture. Performed in a group, the Bihu dancers are usually young men and women, and the dancing style is cha ...

References

External links

Fact and video
Indian musical instruments Musical instruments of Assam Idioglot guimbardes and jaw harps {{Lamellophone-stub

Types

See also

References

External links