Display: Musical Wonders of India

The V&A holds a remarkable collection of 19th century Indian musical instruments. These are the subject of a project carried out in partnership with Darbar Arts Culture Heritage Trust. A small selection is on display in South Asia, Room 41, 16 September 2015 - 31 October 2016, with further examples available to view online.

Musical Wonders of India: About the Project

India has rich traditions of classical, folk and devotional music. The primary focus of this project is on the classical styles but the V&A’s holdings include instru...

Bin Sitar

ON DISPLAY IN SOUTH ASIA, ROOM 41, 16 SEPTEMBER 2015 - 31 OCTOBER 2016. The bin-sitar is a rare hybrid instrument unique to the Pune region of India.

Taus

ON DISPLAY IN SOUTH ASIA, ROOM 41, 16 SEPTEMBER 2015 - 31 OCTOBER 2016. The taus means ‘peacock’ in Persian. It emerged from the Punjab region in the early nineteent...

Sarinda and Bow

ON DISPLAY IN SOUTH ASIA, ROOM 41, 16 SEPTEMBER 2015 - 31 OCTOBER 2016. . The sarinda is a folk instrument that is usually played in accompaniment to singing. This e...

Tambura

ON DISPLAY IN SOUTH ASIA, ROOM 41, 16 SEPTEMBER 2015 - 31 OCTOBER 2016. The tambura or tanpura as it is known in North India, is first mentioned in the Sangeet Pari...

Tabla

ON DISPLAY IN SOUTH ASIA, ROOM 41, 16 SEPTEMBER 2015 - 31 OCTOBER 2016. The tabla is a prominent percussion instrument in Northern India and the Deccan. It is a set ...

Sarangi

ONLINE ONLY. Like a violin, the sarangi is played with a bow, but unlike the violin it is held vertically with the sound chamber below.

Surbahar

ONLINE ONLY. The surbahar is a type of large, bass sitar. Ghulam Muhammed Khan of Lucknow is credited with its invention around the year 1825.

Saraswati Vina

ONLINE ONLY. Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, and the systematic arrangement of sounds into the musical scale is attributed to her. In paintings, she is often ...

Sarod

ONLINE ONLY. The sarod is quite a large instrument and has a deep, drum-like body carved out of one piece of hollowed wood with the neck ending in a downward curve, ...

Swaramandal

ONLINE ONLY. The swaramandal or surmandal resembles a kind of zither. Its name translates from Hindi as a ‘group (or circle) of notes’

Competition: Win a once-in-a-lifetime holiday in India

To celebrate the V&A India Festival we are offering you the chance to win an exotic holiday to India.

V&A India Festival

This autumn the V&A will present a series of exhibitions, displays, events and digital initiatives that will explore the rich and varied culture of South Asia, both ...

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