Veena to Mridangam, everything to know about these traditional Indian musical instruments

The art, music and dance skills that you find in Indian culture is unmatchable. You have artists touching your heart with their lively performances. Indian Music, be it Hindustani, Carnatic or folk, is extremely rich and part of that comes from unique musical instruments that give them their character. All of these instruments make the music special, unique and vibrant. These are some Indian musical instruments you should know about.

Veena

We all worship the Saraswati, Goddess of knowledge . The instrument she holds in her hands is the veena. It is an ancient string instrument that holds immense cultural and spiritual significance. It has various forms, such as the Saraswati veena, Rudra veena, and Vichitra veena. Typically made of wood, the veena features resonators and a long neck with strings, producing a melodious sound.

Mridangam

The mridangam is a percussion instrument widely used in Carnatic classical music. Shaped like a large, double-headed drum, it is played with hands and fingers. The unique construction of the mridangam allows for a range of tones, providing rhythmic accompaniment to vocal and instrumental performances.

Bansuri

The bansuri, or bamboo flute, has a history dating back thousands of years. Crafted from bamboo, it is a simple instrument that can create magic. The bansuri is often associated with Lord Krishna, who is depicted playing it charmingly. Its beautiful tones make it a prominent instrument in classical and devotional music.

Sarod

It is a fretless, plucked string instrument with roots in Afghan and Persian music. It features a metal fingerboard, a skin-covered resonator, and sympathetic strings. Renowned for its rich, resonant sound, the sarod is a prominent instrument in North Indian classical music and has a unique playing style that involves sliding on the strings.

Manjira

Also known as jalra or kartal, it is a pair of small, metallic cymbals widely used in Indian classical, devotional, and folk music. Each cymbal is held between the thumb and fingers and struck together to produce a clear and bright sound. Manjira is often played as an accompaniment during bhajans and kirtans.