Milap

Uniting Arts through Hearts

Instruments India

Explore the fascinating genre of Indian music through our archive of images, sounds and videos. Instruments India is a rich and varied resource, and you can discover the background of each instrument, how it is played, and the type of setting it is normally played in.

If you are a beginner, student, expert or music lover, you can now enjoy a preview to a performance, find out more about a concert you have just seen, or get some background information on instruments in different settings.

Instruments India is the result of a partnership between MILAPFEST and LIVERPOOL HOPE UNIVERSITY, and the archive of instruments is a dynamic resource, which will grow on an ongoing basis.

Bansuri

The bansuri is a flute made of a single hollow shaft of bamboo.

Dilruba

The dilruba or Esraj is a string instrument found in certain northern and western states of India.

E-Tanpura

An e-tanpura are often used in concert by many performers as a substitute for tanpura performers.

Ghatam

The ghatam is an ancient percussion instrument in used Carnatic classical music.

Ghungroo

Gunghroo comprises of several small metallic bells that are strung together and tied around the feet of dancers.

Harmonium

The harmonium is an instrument that has its origins in the period of British rule in India.

Kanjira

The kanjira is a small handheld drum that resembles a tambourine.

Konnakol

konnakol is the art of recitation of ‘solkattu’ which are the vocal syllables of the mridangam.

Morsing

The morsing is a Carnatic percussion instrument. It is a tiny instrument held in the left hand.

Mridangam

The mridangam can be traced back to ancient Indian mythology.

Nadaswaram

The nadaswaram is a wind instrument made of wood and metal that is found in both classical and folk traditions in South India. 

Sangu

The sangu is a conch shell primarily used in religious music of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Santoor

The Santoor’s name comes from the name Shata- tantric, meaning a Veena of hundred strings.

Sarangi

The Sarangi is a fretless, bowed string instrument used in Hindustani classical music and folk traditions of north India.

Sarod

The sarod is a lute like instrument that has connections with the lute like instruments of the Christian era

Sitar

The sitar, a stringed instrument played by plucking, is one of the most well known Indian musical instruments.

Sursrinagar

The sursringar is a rare string instrument that is used as a Hindustani solo instrument. 

Swarmandal

The swarmandal is a harp like instrument that is most commonly used as an accompaniment to Hindustani vocal music.

Tabla

The tabla is the percussion instrument most commonly used in north Indian classical music.

Tanpura

The tanpura is an instrument that acts as the reference chord in Indian classical music. 

Tar Shenai

The Tar Shehnai is an esraj (bowed string instrument) with an added mechanical amplifier.

Thavil

The thavil is a percussion instrument used for accompanying the nadaswaram

Udukkai

The udukkai is an hourglass shaped, membranous drum used in devotional and folk music throughout India. 

Veena

The veena is among the oldest of Indian musical instruments.

Violin

The violin used in Indian classical music is similar to the one used in Western classical traditions.

Join the Milap newsletter and get the latest news and articles straight to your inbox

* indicates required