Pepa: The Sound of the Assamese Hornpipe

Legend has it that once the horn from a carcass of a water buffalo was lying alongside the banks of Brahmaputra. A soft sound started emanating as the gentle breeze passed through the horn.

It piqued the interest of a local buffalo herdsman passing by and the eventual increase of interest in the sound led to the discovery of the hornpipe today known as ‘Pepa’.

Earlier when the buffalo herders would make their way to the fields in the morning, the sound of ‘Pepa’ too accompanied them in the villages of Assam.

There are many festivals across the country which are celebrated as harvest festivals, though the celebrations, customs, and rituals vary across different regions, tribes, and cultures, they are similar in essence and usually include dance, music, and worship.

The most important harvest festival celebrated in Bihu connoting three different festivals around the year coinciding with the farming calendar- the Rongali or Bohag Bihu, celebrated in April, Kongali or Kati Bihu, in October, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu, in January. Of the three, the Rongali Bihu is the most important one, which marks the Assamese New Year and spring festival.

Folk dance and music are an indispensable part of the celebrations during the Rongali Bihu and additionally, folk instruments play an important role in accompanying different music and dance forms.

Here the ‘Pepa’ plays the most important part during the festivities accompanied by many other exceptional instruments such as Baanhi, Dhol, Gogona, Taal, Toka, and Xutuli.

Pepa is basically a reed pipe attached to a buffalo horn and the pipe attached is usually made of bamboo.

There are two versions of Pepa - single and double. The single horn/bamboo has five or six holes and the dual-bodied instrument has four holes.

A metal ring is attached to the opening of the horn that functions both as a mechanical reinforcement and an embellishment. The Pepa is usually under two ft in length, but the size may vary.

Now, due to environmental concerns, Pepa is being made of Wood, Cane, And bamboo.

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