Bansuri flutes arose out of the traditions of north Indian music many thousands of years ago.
They are a traverse flute that is made from bamboo which is hollowed out in the middle.
In ancient times the Bansuri flute was associated with cowherds and was an instrument widely used in pastoral communities.
According to the Wikipedia, the Bansuri it is intimately linked to the love story of Krishna and Radha and is also depicted in Buddhist paintings from around 100 CE. The Bansuri is revered as Lord Krishna's divine instrument and is often associated with Krishna's Rasa lila; mythological accounts tell of the tunes of Krishna's flute having a spellbinding and enthralling effect not only on the women of the Braj, but even on the animals of the region.
It certainly has a lilting and captivating sound at once so rustic and also haunting.
Despite being made from humble bamboo, not all bamboo can be used to make a Bansuri.
Only certain types of bamboo are suitable. These types grow mainly in Assam in the north east of
India and Kerela in the South.
For those who long for something less metallic and more woody and pastoral in tone, the Bansuri flute is not only affordable but also readily available and offers its determined adherents a rich and
satisfying playing experience.
