What is tipanu instrument?

The tipanu is an ancient percussion instrument from India, dating back to the 16th century. It consists of a bowl-shaped resonator made of clay, metal, or wood, with a goatskin membrane stretched over the top. The musician presses the membrane with one or both thumbs, while striking it with a stick. The sound is similar to that of a tabla, but with a lower pitch. The tipanu is commonly used in devotional music, folk music, and classical music of India.