Traditionally, dhol (drum) was used to rouse people for Sehr during the month of Ramadan. Over time, however, this trend has faced a gradual demise. With mass migration to posh areas of the city, this age-old tradition has been lost, rapidly replaced by modern technology such as cell phones and alarm clocks, and it only lives on as part of the older generation’s memory.
When the Ramadan moon was sighted in the past, drummers started the ritual of beating drums to awaken people for Sehr and at the occasion of Eid they received the gratitude of the neighbourhood – not just in prayers, but also in the form of cash remuneration. Shamsuddin, fondly called “Shama” by the people, a Ramadan drummer, beats the drum in Faisal Town to awaken people.
Shamsudding told Pakistan Today: “I do not know about the history of drum-beating at Sehr, but I have done this for 15 year for divine reward. People respect me, and at Eid they give me gifts and cash.” He added that beating the drum in Ramadan so that the faithful could have a meal before the day’s fast began was the oldest tradition. “I continue the practice inspite of challenges and resistance, as much to keep the tradition alive as to gain divine reward,” he said.
He added that in the past if he did not beat his drum at Sehr for some reason, people were concerned and enquired after him the next day, as they had been waiting for him. Now, however, everything was different. Another drummer said it was his family tradition. Being a seventh-generation ceremonial drummer, he was now training his 20-year-old son, he said. He said in addition to his Ramadan reveilles, he played at weddings, birthday parties, graduation celebrations and other events, but this was his favourite season, he said.
Rehan, a citizen, said dhol-playing had a special significance in subcontinental history and it was an old tradition, as every Ramadan the drum-beaters played a vital role in waking up people, and at the end of the month people gave gifts and money as a form of appreciation for their services. He added that modern technology had replaced this old concept. He said like other good historical things we had in the past, modern technology had replaced drum-beating.
Abdullah, a citizen, said: “No doubt it is an old tradition and we love it a lot but things are changing with the passage of time. This concept too has become part of our history and now there is no need to play drums or to beat an empty tin at Sehr, because people have substitutes like cell phones, television and announcements through loudspeakers in mosques.”
