From the archive record
Rajasthani musician playing 'ravanahatha' as his wife sitting next to him, at Jaisalmer Fort in Rajasthan, India. The Ravanahatha is an ancient bowed violin, once popular in Western India and Sri Lanka. The ravanahatha is believed by the indigenous Sinhalese ethnic majority to have originated among the Hela civilization of Sri Lanka in the time of King Ravana. The bowl is made of a cut coconut shell that is covered with goat hide. A Dandi, made of bamboo, is attached to this shell. The two principle strings are made of steel and horsehair, respectively. The long bow has jingle bells. Throughout the medieval history of India, the kings were patrons of music; this helped in increased popularity of ravanhatta among royal families. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, it was the first musical instrument