Manjira: India musical instrument

The manjira is a traditional percussion musical instrument of Bhàrata India. In its simplest form, the musical instrument is a pair of small round cymbals. The musical instrument is also called manjeera, taal, jalra, khartàl or kartàl.

The musical instruments often accompany folk music or devotional music. The musical instrument is used in different religious ceremonies of India, specifically bhajans. The manjira is an old musical instrument. Pictures of the musical instrument have been seen in temples traced back to the earliest times.

source of picture: greatamericanmusicstor..

The musical instrument are often manufactured of brass, bronze, copper zinc or bell metal and connected with a copper cord that passes through holes in their centre. The musical instruments manufacture a rhythmic tinkling tune when they are being struck together. The pitch of the sound differs according to the size and weight of the musical instrument, as well as the material used in the production of the musical instrument. A player of the instrument can also adjust the tone quality by differentiating the point of contact while playing the instrument.

The musical instrument can also be made up of a wooden frame with two long, straight handles, which link to each other with two short wooden handles; the open space between the long handles of the instrument has a wooden separator that separates two rows of the three brass cymbals. Also there are small cymbals attached into wood blocks that form another version of the musical instrument called khartal.

There are very few players of this musical instrument in Gujarat, who play and have expertise in the instrument.