Sitar BINA Model No.5 – Vilayat Khan Style

The Sitar

Much can be read about the Sitar, the origins widely contested but can be drawn from two main heritages, the Turk-Arab origins and the Indian origin.

The Sitar belongs to the family of long-necked lutes which also include the Surbahar and the Tanpura.  Its sound box is made of a pumpkin while the sound board and neck are made of timber (most common is tunwood, an Indian subspecies of teak wood). Two curved bridges made of bone or horn (or plastic nowadays) have steel and bronze strings running over them. The frets are tied movable to the neck and are made of nickel silver. Most Sitars are decorated with inlays of celluloid and lavish carvings.

The Sitar stirs almost a mystical notion when spoken of and played, the blood in our veins vibrate and sing their own Raag (song). Its beautiful lines and shape add to the mystery.

Listening to the greats …. Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Anoushka Shankar, Inayat Khan, Gokul Nag, Halim Jaffar Khan, Balaram Pathak, Rais Khan and Kartick Kumar to name but a few… we the audience know we are in the presence of ‘Ustads’ and whilst you will find many who play the true devotee of the Sitar will always say they are continually learning.

To hear the Megh Malhar Rāga which legends says can bring forth the rains when sung and accompanied upon the Sitar is to know without a shadow of a doubt that your soul has truly woken and dances amongst the rain drops.