THANE: Every year, for the last 70 years, 90 families from the Shaikh community in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, arrive in Kalyan just before the Ganapati festival. They come here with one mission — to make and sell traditional hand-made dholkis, a percussion instrument that adds a magical rhythm to the Ganapati festivities.
From the moment the Ganesha idol arrives, to the aartis, and the final visarjan, or immersion, the beats of the dholak drum up festive cheer. It’s as if their rhythm pulses through the heart of the city.
These families, from the ‘Dholkiwali’ community, live in Kalyan for about a month. In that short time, they bring with them not just their instruments but a rich legacy of tradition and hard work passed down through generations. In the narrow lanes of Bail Bazaar in Kalyan West, where these families live, the sound of hammers, ropes and laughter fills the air. Their presence is not just about selling dholkis, it’s a cultural exchange, a passion for art, and the joy of togetherness.
Mohammad Hasan, a 65-year-old dholki maker, has been coming to Kalyan since he was 15. “Our seven generations have never missed a single year,” he says proudly. “The Ganapati festival is very important to us. We bring our material – wood and leather – from our village, where other family members help prepare it. Our dholkis are strong enough to last 5-6 years, if handled well.”
Hasan recalls learning to make dholkis when he was a child. “We never went to school, but we played with tools and wood from a young age. Identifying good wood for dholaks became our game,” he laughs. “Now, when we cut wood, we plant trees.”
The entire village back in Moradabad is involved in the craft. Dholki-making is not just a profession, it’s their identity. Men, women, and even children from the community take part in this annual journey. They don’t just sell dholkis but also play them during local events and Ganapati celebrations. Many are invited to homes and pandals to perform, adding vigour and rhythm to every aarti and procession.
People wait for the dholki beats during Ganpati.
Nijam Ali, a 30-year-old dholki maker, has proudly followed in his ancestors’ footsteps. “We don’t know how dholki-making became our village’s identity, but we love it. We look poor, but we’ve chosen this work out of love and tradition,” he says.
“The sound, the tightness, the material, every nuance matters. It’s an art we’ve known since birth. Our children are learning it now,” Nijam adds. “People here celebrate Ganapati with so much excitement and we start preparing from August with the same joy.”
During the first 15 days after they arrive in Kalyan, each family makes around 150 dholkis, which they sell during the festive season. Prices range from ₹300 for a child’s dholki, to ₹2,000 for the larger ones. Most families earn around ₹15,000 during the season.
Despite being a part of the city’s festival for decades, some families now face discrimination due to their religious identity.
The Dholkiwali community is Muslim, and Khajana Shaikh, 45, revels in the inclusive spirit of the Ganapati festival. “We’ve been coming here for 15 years. The municipal staff and police know us well. Often, people invite us into the temples and homes to play dholkis.”
In times when social bonds are being replaced with social media and cultural ties are waning, the spirit of the Ganapati festival endures. The Shaikh community remains committed to preserving their tradition, each beat of their dholkis echoing unity, devotion and celebration.