These vibrations are caused by plucking or by bowing on the string which has been pulled taut. The tata vadya is a category of instruments in which sound is produced by the vibration of a string or chord. The Ghana Vadya or Idiophones- Solid instruments which do not require tuning.The Avanaddha Vadya or Membranophones- Percussion instruments.The Sushira Vadya or Aerophones- Wind instruments.The Tata Vadya or Chordophones- Stringed instruments.In the Natya Shastra, compiled by Bharat Muni dated 200 B.C.-200 A.D., musical instruments have been divided into four main categories on the basis of how sound is produced. The hand was referred to as the Hasta Veena, where the hands and fingers are used to show the notation system of vedic chanting, coordinating sound with mudra-hand gesture. Dried fruit rattles, the Kaniyani Danda of Oraons or the dried berries or shells tied to the waist are used for producing rhythm, even today. Very ancient instruments may be seen as an extension of the human body and we find even today, sticks and clappers. This is extended to mean instrument in the context of music. The Tamil word for instrument-Karuvi is found in Sangam literature of the 2nd to 6th century A.D., the literal meaning of which is “tool”. For instance, the hair used for making the bow, the wood or clay used for making the drum, or the hide of animals used in the instruments, all these tell us about the flora and fauna of a particular region. A study of these helps in tracing the evolution of music and also explains many aspects of the material culture of the group of people to which these instruments belong. Musical instruments are the tangible and material representation of music which is an auditory art. Much later, in the excavations of the Harappan Civilization also, evidence is available of dance and music activity. The earliest evidence of music activity is found on the walls of cave paintings at Bhimbetka and in several parts of Madhya Pradesh, which were occupied by man approximately 10,000 years ago. The continuity of the musical traditions of India is established through a study of musical texts and numerous visual references one finds of musical instruments in painting and sculpture from prehistoric times to the present day. India is the inheritor of one of the most ancient and evolved music systems in the world. Booking of facilities at Regional Centre at Hyderabad.Sale of Publications and Audio Video Material.Publication and Audio Visual Productions.Project – Interpretation Centres at Varanasi.Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay Memorial Lecture.Extension Services and Community Feedback Programmes Activity for Children.Refresher Course(s) for CCRT Trained Teachers.Integrating Craft Skills in School Education.Role of Schools in Conservation of the Natural and Cultural Heritage.

Stringed musical instruments of india