India, Bangladesh, Bengal

Indian

Wood, metal string, deer skin, metal tacks
Late 20th century
Length: 31.5 in; Width: 5.625 in; Depth/Diameter: 4 in
Chordophones – Lutes -Spike Lute Drone

The ektar (ek – one:  tar – string, also called gopiyantra in east India/Bengal and Bangladesh) is generally a one string (monochord) instrument that can be plucked or drummed and is used in South Asia.  This ektar happens to have two metal strings.  It originated among the wandering bards and minstrels from India and is considered a drone lute.  There are two forms of an ektar, one as a drone lute and the other as a drum-like version.

This ektar with two metal strings has two bamboo lathes attached on opposite sides of the bowl and are bent to meet at the top where a wooden peg is inserted.  Above the peg is a large carved swan-like figure. The two lathes have extensive floral incised decorations on one side and anthropomorphic and zoomorphic incised decorations on the other. Both are a mix of natural foreground and dark stained background. There is red fiber rope wrapped around the instrument just above and below the tuning pegs as well. At the bottom, the two metal strings feed into an ornately carved wooden piece attached via tension to the bottom of the resonator. Both this wood piece and the resonator are stained a mahogany color with whirling textures. Front and back of the resonator has stylized designs filling in a triangular area in black and red. The two bamboo lathes are attached to the resonator in two places – at the sides with red stained wood pegs, and near the mouth with black fiber rope.

Considering the symbolic ornamentation and decorative painting it is possible that this ektar is used in kirtan chanting, a Hindu devotional practice of singing.  Nevertheless, the ektar is commonly used by mendicant religious singers of the Hindu sadhu or Muslim fakir types as well as by the Bauls of Bengal (an eastern state of India).