What is "tassa"

Tassa is a form of kettle drum. Tassa drums are widespread all over India. Typically, one or more tassa drums are played together with a heavy bass drum called dhol, perhaps along with brass cymbals or a metal shaker. Tassa-dhol ensembles of three to five players are especially common in street processions, whether associated with Hindu weddings, political rallies, or Muslim Muharram commemorations. In Maharashtra, ensembles of several dozen drummers compete in festivities honoring the deity Ganesh. Drummers in these ensembles are often amateurs, or specialists in other drum traditions. Brought by indentured workers to the Caribbean in the 19th century, tassa ensembles have flourished with great dynamism in Trinidad, where they were used in the Hindu Phagwah, Muslim Hosay festival, and also in Florida, Guyana, New York, Texas, New Jersey, Canada and various other places where Indo-Caribbean communities are found.