In Indonesia and Malaysia, what large drum can signal the end of a Ramadan fast?

The story behind the answer

In Indonesia and Malaysia, a large drum that can signal the end of a Ramadan fast is called a bedug.

A bedug is a large, double-headed drum traditionally made with animal hide stretched over a broad wooden body. Unlike the smaller kendang, it is commonly suspended from a frame and struck with a padded mallet, producing a deep, resonant sound that carries across a neighborhood. Its use combines Islamic communal practice with musical traditions of maritime Southeast Asia.

At Indonesian and Malaysian mosques, the bedug may be played before the adhan to signal prayer times. During Ramadan, its sound can announce sunset and the end of the day-long fast, and in some communities it also helps mark the approach of suhoor. The instrument is not the same as a daf, which is a frame drum, or a tabla, which is a paired Indian drum. In Sarawak, a related Malay tradition may call the instrument teter.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

Add question to a list

Choose a list to keep this question in: