The Musical Instruments in Himachal Pradesh

Wind Instruments

Bansuri/Flute:

The Hindu God lord Krishna is traditionally considered a master of the bamboo flute. Two main varieties of Indian flutes are currently used; the first has six finger holes and one embouchure hole and is used predominantly in the Hindustani music of northern India.
The second, the Venu or Pullan Guzhal, has eight finger holes and is played predominantly in the carnatic music of Southern India; prior to this the south Indian flute had only seven finger holes, with the fingering standard developed by Sharaba Shastri. This instrument is quite popular among Gaddi tribes.

Shehnai

Shehnai or Mangal Vadya, common in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Iran made out of wood with a metal flare bell at the end. It usually has between six and nine
It is similar to south India’s ‘Nadaswaram’.

Been: It is played at marriages and on various auspicious occasions.

Kindari: It is played in the Mahasu area.

Granyang and Jamang: These can be heard in Lahaul Spiti.

Kangdum:

It is also known as Kangling. It is made of the thigh bone of a human being extracted from the corpse.
Thigh bone is decorated with silver and bronze
Thigh bone of a woman, who dies in pregnancy, is more valued as the instrument made of it is believed to produce a sound that is more effective for conjuring the benevolent spirits.

Other wind instruments: Ranasingha, Karnal, Turhi (Bugle), Algoza (twin flutes) etc.

Stringed Instrument

Sarangi: It is a bowed, short necked string instrument from south Asia which is used in Hindustani classical music. It is said to resemble the sound of human voice and is the most able to imitate vocal ornaments such as Gamaks (shakes) and Meends (sliding movement) carved from single block of tun (red cedar) , the sarangi has a box like shape with three hollow chambers: Pet (stomach), Chhati (chest) and Magaj (brain).
Others are Ektara, Kindari Devatara, Gramyang, Robab, Jumang, Ruman and Rumals.

Percussion Instruments

Jhanjh (large cymbals), Manjira (small Cymbals), Chimta (tongs), Ghanta (gongs), Ghariyal (large gongs), Thali (platters).
Manjira: It is a traditional percussion instrument of Bharata. It is also known as Taal, Jalra, Khartal, Gini made of bronze, Brass, copper, zinc or bell.

Bells: Ghunghru, Kikatha Murchang, Wooden castanets (Khadtal).

Variety of Drums

Dhol, Dholku, Nagara, Dammama, Damanghat Nagrath, Gajju, Doru, Hudak and Dhaunsa. In the plains large drums are known as ‘Tamak’. Bharai community performs the ritual playing of drums at the fair.