Toka is a popular and easily available musical instrument used in Assamese folk Music. Toka is made of Bamboo, and bamboo being the most common produce of the forests of Assam, it is used abundantly by Assamese folk musicians. The primary beat of Bihu music was kept by clapping hands, which finally led to development of instruments like Toka. Toka is one of the eight musical instruments used in Bihu.
The Toka or Bamboo clappers is widely used among various indigenous tribes of Northeast India and East/Southeast Asia including Burma, Philippines, Taiwan, etc. The Toka used by Bodo tribe of Assam is known as "Thorka"Narzary, Hargauri, “Folk festivals of Bodos”,p.1, while that used by Hajongs is called “Therthera”.“Therthera : It is made from a piece of a bamboo cylinder having two nodes finely split at one end. It is then played by striking against the palm of the left hand. It is a common instrument used in almost all ceremonies.“ The Tripuri people call it “Uakhrap”.Jabanikq, Tripura,”Traditional Musical Instruments in Indigenous People of Tripura”, p.284
See also Bihu Culture of Assam Bihu dance
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