 This instrument was used mainly in Theravada Buddhist artistic rituals which also involved other categories of instruments such as "Ghana, Avanaddha", and "Tat" (idiophones, membranophones and chordophones respectively).The hakgediya is not used to perform melodic variation or to be the main instrument in the ritualistic pice.The variance found in the notes emitted by the hakgediya is in dynamic range (volume), as the player can choose to blow soft or loud, with a sharp or smooth attack, sustain, decay and release.