Khartal
Khartal is a portable, pocket-sized percussion instrument from India.
Khartal
Synonymous to the spoons, bones or castanets, Khartal is one of the oldest percussion instruments from India, yet most people have never heard or seen it before. Khartal consist of four flat pieces of wood, two of which are gripped with your thumbs and the other two lie flat on your fingers. Khartals can be custom designed and spec’ed out to fit your hand size and wood preference. Khartals are conveniently pocket-friendly and durable enough to last a few lifetimes.
“Tap Dance with your Hands” is a class designed to explore balance, rhythm and movement with the percussion instrument known as Khartal. This class will teach how to maintain momentum by making circular patterns with your arms and increase energy by “bopping” up and down with your knees. The slightest of hand gestures can produce complex rhythmic patterns and an array of colorful tones when clapped together.
At Surya Sound Temple, the Khartal is handcrafted as both an instrument and a work of art. Made from dense, resonant hardwoods like rosewood or teak, each set is tailored to fit the player’s hand for maximum comfort and control. Designed to produce a vibrant range of claps and clicks, these traditional Indian clappers carry centuries of rhythm in their grain—offering a powerful yet pocket-sized gateway into the heart of Indian percussion.
