What is Gogona Assamese?
Rachel Hickman
Published Feb 27, 2026
What is Gogona Assamese?
The gogona (Assamese: গগণা) is a type of jaw harp, a vibrating reed instrument that is used primarily in the traditional Bihu music in Assam. In Boro language, it is known as Gongina. It is made of a piece of bamboo/horn that has a bifurcation on one end.
How many types of Gogona are there?
two types
There are two types of gogona- Ramdhon gogona and Lahori gogona.
What is Assamese dhol?
Dhol, a folk music instrument of Assam, is considered to be one of the most important assets of Bihu celebration. The side of the dhol played by hands is made of cow’s leather. The other side is made of bull’s leather. The common form of dhol are: Bihu Dhol.
Which of the following musical instruments is originally from Assam?
List
| Name of instrument | Name in Assamese | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bin | বীন | Bin is an old Assamese instrument |
| Bhortal | ভোঁৰতাল | Bhortal is used in Vaishnavite culture of Assam mostly. It is made up of metal. |
| Khram | খ্ৰাম | Khram is a long instrument. |
| Madol | মাডল | Madol is popular in Assam. |
Who plays Gogona instrument?
English: A musical instrument that is played during the bihu and made of bamboo sticks. There are two types of gogona- Ramdhon gogona and Lahori gogona. Ramdhon gogonas are played by the male bihu dancers and lahori gogonas by the female ones.
What is played in Bihu?
The characteristic feature of the Bihu dance is the use of traditional instruments such as Baanhi, Dhol, Gogona, Taal, Toka and Xutuli. These instruments lend a unique musical flavour when rendering the songs for the dance.
What are Hindu cymbals called?
In its simplest form, it consists of a pair of small hand cymbals. The word taal comes from the Sanskrit word Tālà, which literally means a clap. It is a part of Indian music and culture, used in various traditional customs e.g. Bihu music, Harinaam etc.
Who plays dhol Assam?
The origin of the Dhol in Assam dates back to at least the 14th century where it was referred in Assamese Buranjis as being played by the indigenous people. This shows that the origin of Dhol in Assam was much older than the rest of India, and the name was probably due to sanskritisation.
What is Bhortal dance?
What is Bhortal Dance? Barpeta’s Bhortal Nritya is one of the most popular dances performed in the Assam state of India. People who belong to all age group and cultural background enjoy this dance. Generally, it is performed during the festival season like Bihu and is staged in and around the district of Barpeta.
How many Bihu are there in Assam?
three
Bihu is a set of three important Assamese festivals in the Indian state of Assam—Rongali or Bohag Bihu observed in April, Kongali or Kati Bihu observed in October, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu observed in January.
What is the tradition of Assam?
Bihu is the most popular folk dance of Assam. Bihu dances are performed by young boys and girls during the Bihu festivities which represent youthful passion, reproductive urge and joy. It is characterized by brisk dance steps and rapid hand movement. Dancers wear traditional colourful Assamese clothing.
What is the Assamese instrument called?
The gogona ( Assamese: গগণা) is a type of jaw harp, a vibrating reed instrument that is used primarily in the traditional Bihu music in Assam. It is made of a piece of bamboo / horn that has a bifurcation on one end.
What does gogona stand for?
The gogona (Assamese: গগণা) is a type of jaw harp, a vibrating reed instrument that is used primarily in the traditional Bihu music in Assam.
What is a Gogona made of?
In Boro language, it is known as Gongina. It is made of a piece of bamboo / horn that has a bifurcation on one end. The solid end is gripped with the teeth and the free ends are then struck repeatedly with the fingers to emit the distinctive sound of the gogona.
What is the difference between Lahori Gogona and Ramdhan Gogona?
Ramdhan Gogona ( Assamese: ৰামধন গগণা) is generally played by men. It is shorter, wider and slightly heavier than the Lahori Gogona, to fit properly in a typical man’s hand. This instrument is often tucked in a tongali tied around the performer’s waist or in a vivid Gamusa tied around the head like other instruments like Bahi ( Flute ), Xutuli etc.