Traditional Musical Instruments of Kashmir

Music has  ancient roots in Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmiri music  represents the melodic heritage and the refined inheritance of the state. With its unique music, the state also holds a history of traditional musical instruments which became the soul of Kashmiri Music. In Rajtarangini, the great poet of Kashmir, Kalhana mentioned about the history of musical instruments in Kashmir.
So, here some traditional musical instruments of Kashmir which is still played by the modern-day artists:

 (Rabab remains favorite of the present-day artists and popular among the youngsters in Kashmir)

 Rabab: Rabab is an integral part of Kashmiri music culture. Although it has undergone many changes in structure and manner of playing, during the course of time, it is still one of the oldest stringed musical instruments known in the field of music,  Rabab is made up of second mulberry wood. It is about to three and a half feet in length. One end of the body is round with the diameter of about a foot. Rabab is played during occasions and weddings in the form of couplets or songs. The Kashmiris just can’t get over Rabab music as its tunes touch their heart.

                                       (A man making a Tumbaknari with earthen clay)

Tumbaknari: This is an earthen shaped instrument used for every singing occasion in Kashmir. Many authors believe that this instrument has its origin in Iran because Tumbaknari shares everything common with Irani Tumakh, except its body. This instrument is played by the women folk in Kashmir. It is made by baked clay to make it sound more rhythmic.

   (A traditional Kashmiri Sitar with slight modern day variations)

Kashmiri Sitar: The Kashmiri sitar has a long body and seven playing strings. This sitar is smaller in size than the other sitars, available in India. The fifth wire is adjoined with Pancham of Madhya Saptaq while rest six strings are combined with “Sa”of Madhya Saptaq. These strings are struck with 'Mizrab' to produce sweet notes. Kashmiri sitar is played with mystical music which keeps harmony with a song.

 (Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz playing Saz-e-Kashmir)

 Saz-e-Kashmir: This round wooden musical instrument remained intact in the Kashmiri music without any major modification. The Kashmiris call it Saz-e-Kashmir as this musical instrument is devised in Kashmir. It has three main strings and is played with a bow. It is more like a traditional version of violin which produces soothing sound. 

These traditional instruments are still played and used by Kashmiri musicians. Although western musical instruments are gaining immense popularity among the present-day artists, traditional instruments remain favorite among musicians of Kashmir.