Object of the Day

Nepali Sarangi

May 19

A sarangi, a fiddle-like instrument, made in the 1960s. The instrument was collected in the hills around Pokhara, Nepal, where the sarangi is played by the Gaines, a Nepali musician caste.

Sarangi (Musical Instrument)

Notes
Stringed musical instrument. Carved from dark wood, unpainted. Body is flat on top and rounded underneath. The lower half of the top is covered with skin (like a drum) and the upper half is open. 4 wire strings, wooden pegs. One loose wooden piece (bridge?). A cotton strap is threaded through a hole in the neck (carrying strap?). Bow is attached by a string. Bow is made from bamboo stick, with horsehair attached to each end.
Collector's Note: Collected in the hills around Pokhara. Sarangi, an instrument played by the Gaines (musicians caste) is made with Khirra woods and a goat skin base. The bow is made with goat intestine unless a parachute strings are bought. Articles and photos relating to the Sarangi and Gaine may be found in National Anthropological Archives, John Hitchcock Collection, Box 13, folder "Gaine of Nepal"
Record Last Modified
11 Jul 2023
Specimen Count
1
Data Source
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
Collector
John T. Hitchcock
Donor Name
Catharine McClellan
Accession Date
14 Jun 2005
Collection Date
1960 to 1969
Object Type
Lute