A taarija (plural: ta'arij) is a Moroccan Arab Hilalian membranophone (drum), single skin and tube, played singly, unlike the tabla, which is a pair of drums, and is related to the darbouka. While the tube may be metal (e.g., silver), it is typically made of baked clay.[1]
In some areas, tara'ij are traditionally given to children at the holiday of Ashura; a boy's drum has a plain baked-clay tube, and a girl's drum is painted in brightly colored patterns. A woman wearing heavy make-up may be said to be painted "like a taarija of Ashura".[2]