Ektara

One of the most prominent indigenous musical instruments of Bengal, the Ektara represents the rich musical tradition and heritage of the state. The one stringed instrument made up of the shell of pumpkin can produce varieties of melodious tunes that fill the air with music.

The Ektara is the most significant musical instrument of the Baul singers. The Baul singers spread their message of love and unity through their beautiful musical rendition accompanied and supported by the Ektara. One can derive the meaning of Ektara from the name of the instrument itself. Ek means one and tara means string. Therefore the name Ektara, which means a musical instrument that produces varieties of tunes with only one string.

The Ektara is the most popular folk instrument of rural Bengal. The Baul singers have cast a magical spell on the national and international arena by their enchanting melodious songs and the beautiful tunes produced by the Ektara.

The Ektara is very simple to play which produces different kinds of tunes that enthralls and enchants the audience. From being a simple musical instrument of the rural Bengal, the Ektara has now acquired a global character. One of the most simple yet useful musical instrument, th unsophisticated Ektara has earned a prominent place in the global world because of its unique character.

However, the Ektara still remains as a symbol of the folk tradition of rural India, and a prized possession of the Baul community. The one stringed instrument has brought about a revolution in the musical world. The Ektara is now used as an important musical instrument in the sophisticated and famous musical bands all over the world.