This post was updated April 1 at 10:5 p.m.

As colorful sarees and embroidered kurtas filled the dance floor, wedding guests danced to the beat of Bollywood music and Neil Pal’s dhol.

Pal, a second-year computer science and linguistics student, said seeing someone play the dhol at a wedding in India inspired him to learn how to play the instrument. After being taught the basics by a high school friend, Pal turned to YouTube tutorials and now performs at UCLA events including the Bruin Hindus’ Diwali event and the Indian Student Union’s Garba, he said.

A dhol is a two-headed drum that is commonly played at weddings and parties and originally comes from the Punjab region in India and Pakistan.

Through his business, Pal plays at a wide range of events, including parties, nightclubs and anniversaries. However, he said he primarily plays at weddings or baraats – wedding processions that symbolize the unification of two families in marriage.

“Every wedding that I do – that’s probably the most impactful for me,” he said. “I know that at the end of the day, I made a difference on someone’s happiest day of their life.”

Pal added that one of his favorite experiences was collaborating with the Bruin Bhangra team to travel to local elementary schools and showcase Punjabi culture. He said he visited Los Angeles public schools to play dhol alongside bhangra dancers and teach about Indian culture.

“Kids are really engaged, especially when they see a drum,” he said. “Once you start playing it, they always come up afterwards and say, ‘Can I hit the drum? Can I hit the drum?’”

Recently, Pal also began teaching younger kids how to play and perform with the dhol. One of his most fulfilling teaching experiences was watching videos of one of his students, a sixth grader, lead the procession in a baraat last year, he said.

“You can see everyone in the crowd. They were losing their minds that such a little kid is playing so well,” he said. “I felt like that’s my extension, and I was so happy for him.”

Pal said he also enjoys experimenting with different songs of varying tempos.

While performing, he wears a custom vest that includes his name, his Instagram handle and phone number so people who watch his videos can contact him, he said. Clients typically hear about Pal’s services through his Instagram page and from picking up his business cards at local South Asian-owned businesses, he added.

Monica Pal, Neil’s sister and a fourth-year computer science and linguistics student, said she manages his social media account, @dhol_by_neil, and accompanies him to events as a dhol player herself. Taking pride in Punjabi culture is central to their music, she said.

“For me, it’s a stress reliever,” she said. “I’m able to go to these amazing events in such amazing places and play for people, bringing them joy, bringing myself and Neil joy.”

The sibling duo has received support from Dash Cooper, who said he met Neil while they both studied at Chapman University before Neil transferred to UCLA. Cooper said he helps Pal find events and venues to play.

When Cooper met Neil during their first-year orientation, he was initially unfamiliar with Indian culture and Punjabi celebrations, he said.

“Growing up in a different culture, I was always used to the tight-knit community and the welcomeness,” he said. “When I was first introduced to Neil’s community, it was the exact same feeling. I got along with almost every person I met even though I didn’t exactly belong. I’ve loved the treatment that I received – it definitely made me feel a lot more appreciated.”

Neil said that playing the dhol at school events helped him form new friendships both at UCLA and at Chapman. Gaurav Chintamneedi, the former president of Chapman’s South Asian Student Association, added that his close friendship with Neil began from his dhol performances.

Chintamneedi said when visiting Chapman as an alumnus for Diwali in 2024, Neil planned a surprise musical entry for him.

“Everyone was dancing outside of Chapman, and we had random students coming and joining us in the dance,” he said. “He played music till 12 a.m., so that was really awesome.”

However, Neil said he often finds it difficult to balance being a student and traveling to play at venues across LA because of the physical toll it takes on his body.

“The next day, our arms are so sore,” Monica said. “I used to ask him, ‘How do you do it?’ Because I would wake up incredibly sore and everything was hurting.”

Despite these challenges, Neil said he finds meaning in the impact he makes on people’s lives during these celebrations.

“My main thing for dhol is more spreading the joy,” he said.