Thanjavur Veena

Current Context : Thanjavur Veena is the first musical instrument in the country to get the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

• Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu is famed for being the hub of making the instrument.

ABOUT THANJAVUR VEENA

• The Thanjavur Veena, an ancient and revered musical instrument, holds a special place in the rich cultural tapestry of India.
• There are four types of veena.
  • Rudra veena and Vichitra veena are popular in Hindustani classical music.
  • Saraswati veena and Chitra veena are used in Carnatic classical music.
• Thanjavur is the only place where Saraswati veena is made.
• Saraswati, the goddess of learning and arts, is portrayed with a veena.
• The production of veena, handcrafted with skill and perfection, requires dedication, time and devotion.
• Jackfruit wood is used to make veena and the process involves a laborious task, taking up to 15-20 days, to get the finished product.