The continuous rawhide lace that zig-zags between the gajra at the top and the ring at the drum's base, clamping the pudi to the shell. Its overall tension sets the head's base pitch; tightening raises it, slackening lowers it.
On the dayan the baddhi works together with the gatta blocks for coarse tuning; the bayan usually relies on lacing tension alone. Modern instruments sometimes replace strap-and-block with metal turnbuckles or bolt tuning, trading tradition for stability in changing weather.