THOUGH originally stemming from Persian traditions, Tassa drums are a part of the rich legacy of Indian culture over the centuries. In Guyana, Tassa drumming is a beloved feature of many Hindu weddings and, over the years, have also been known to appear amidst an ensemble of other sounds at cultural events.

The Pepperpot Magazine spoke with Rajesh Dubraj, who represents one of the leading Tassa drum groups in Guyana.

He recalled how he became involved in playing the Tassa drum.

“It was soon after the death of Bhaiji Ram, who was the religious leader of the Eccles Devi Mandir, and he was also the proprietor of the Tairam Little India Store, who recognised and supplied us with a set of Tassa drums and gave us terms to pay for it when we as a group would have played out,” Dubraj told the Pepperpot Magazine.

He made mention of the fact that some 20 years ago, Tassa drumming was looked at as a “poor old man‘s culture” and Tassa drummers were mostly old men from across the country, who usually had to put up with poor accommodation and treatment when hired to perform for weddings.

He also noted that most of these men, particularly older folk, were very reluctant to teach the art form to the youngsters for many reasons.

Dubraj shared with the Pepperpot Magazine that after about five years as a group, he believes they have changed that narrative, raised the bar and brought the art form to a more meaningful entertainment package.

“I first extended teaching time and days and venues. I also provided costumes from T-Shirts to midvan kurtas outfits,” Dubraj told the Pepperpot Magazine.

According to Dubraj, there was a no-caps and no- slippers policy.

“We would usually perform for churches’ cultural events for free,” he noted.

During the interview, Dubraj said that 23 years ago as a musician in the Mandir and as a budding Chutney artiste, he decided to add to his repertoire of instruments (Tassa Drumming) and learnt to play with friends and students from the temple.

“ During the period when the group was just emerging, we would only stay once per week at the Temple compound, but with discipline and dedication, the group quickly became popular and well known for its exquisite performances and high-speed entertainment act,” Dubraj told the Pepperpot Magazine

The Tassa Drummer noted that after one year, people began to recognise the group for its ability and started booking and paying for them to perform at their events.

According to him, regrettably, the group wasn’t able to perform at that time, because they were using the temple’s instruments.

Dubraj has emerged from having a passion for Indian music and culture to being the leading Chutney artiste in Guyana and is also the lone artiste of that particular genre signed to the Kross Kolor label.

A feature on the local artist from womex.com states that Dubraj has made his name “performing at many major events in almost every region in Guyana and has also touched a few regional territories, including Suriname, where he performed at CARIFESTA VIII and CARIFESTA IX in Trinidad & Tobago, representing Guyana in the arts of singing and Tassa drumming. One of his major performances was at the launching of the cellphone giant company DIGICEL in Guyana, where he shared the stage with Grammy award winner Akon and the T.O.K, a male group of Jamaica. With a few of his original songs already released under the Kross Kolor label, Rajesh has been excelling tremendously, having won the 2004 and 2009 Chutney Soca Competition in Guyana and gradually managing to gain the position of being the Chutney sensation of Guyana.”

Apart from tassa drumming, his talents include being a vocalist, Harmonium, Dholak player.

Rajesh notesd that: “Everyone has their way of doing things; their own style and adds their own ‘flava’ and feel to make things more comfortable and far easier for them to do.”

When it comes to Guyanese entertainment, Rajesh Dubraj has his own way of expressing and showcasing his talent.