The chande is a traditional drum utilized in the classical music of South India, specifically within the Yakshagana theatre art of Karnataka. It operates according to the Yakshagana Tala system, with rhythms derived from pre-classical music forms that serve as the foundation for both Karnataka Sangeta and Hindustani Sangeetha.
There are different varieties of this instrument, most notably the Badagu Thittu Chande and the Thenku Thittu Chande. While the latter can be spelled chenda and is used in the art forms of southern coastal Karnataka and Kerala, the Badagu Thittu Chande is used exclusively in Yakshagana. This specific variety is structurally and acoustically distinct from the chenda found in Kerala.