Narasinghapettai Nagaswaram Bags GI Tag

In News 

• Nagaswaram made in Narasinghapettai in Thanjavur district has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag on the application filed by the Thanjavur Musical Instruments Workers Co-operative Cottage Industrial Society Ltd.
  • This will help the artisans receive assistance from the Indian government and other benefits.
  • The GI tag will boost trade.

About Narasinghapettai Nagaswaram 

• The artisans based at Narasinganpettai village inherited the skill of making these wooden instruments from their forefathers.
• The nagaswaram now being used by artists throughout is called ‘pari nagaswaram’, which is longer than the ‘thimiri’. 
• A major portion of the ‘Narasinghapettai nagaswaram’ is made from the aacha (Hardwickia binata) tree and many a time the artisans use the wood from parts of old houses. 

• The front portion — ‘anusu’ or enhancer — is made of ‘vaagai’ wood. 
  • ‘Seevali’, the reed, is made from a type of grass that grows on the banks of the Cauvery and the Kollidam.

Nagaswaram 

• It is a wind instrument made of wood and metal. 
• It is a conical double-reed aerophone of southern India. 
• There are seven small holes on top of the kuzhal and five below it. 
• Used in religious ceremonies.
• Mostly used on auspicious occasions and also in classical concerts.

Image Courtesy :Indian culture

Source:TH