Percussive Musical Instruments of India
India is very rich in the number and variety of musical instruments. From time immemorial, musical instruments have been connected with various Gods and goddesses according to mythol ogy. Musical Instruments have been classified into Thata, Avanadha, Ghana and Sushira. We came across this classification first in Natyashastra. Thata variety, is an instrument with strings and played by plucking or bowing. The instruments like Veena, Sitar, violin, Sarangi etc. come under this category. The Avandha variety are instruments with skin-covered heads, and are played by beating on both sides or one side. Mridangam, Pakhawaj, Tabla etc. come under this category. Ghana vadyas are those made with metal content. Manjira, Ghatom etc. are some of the examples of Ghana Vadya. Sushira Vadya are those instruments with holes and make the sound by blowing air through the holes. Flute, Nagaswaram, Saxophone, Clarinet are some of the examples.