An Indian hand drum with a barrel shape and two heads, used in classical and folk music traditions.
From Tamil chēṇṭai, related to percussion instruments across South India. The word reflects the instrument's origins in Tamil musical tradition.
The chende is the heartbeat of Kerala's Kathakali dance-drama performances—its rapid, complex rhythms are so important that a master chende player is as celebrated as the dancers themselves.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.