Israj Instrument

The esraj is a traditional Indian bowed string instrument from Bengal, known for its deep, melodic sound and its use in North Indian classical music and Rabindra Sangeet. It features a Sitar-like neck with frets, four main playing strings, and numerous sympathetic strings that create a resonant, vocal-like tone reminiscent of the sarangi but with greater ease of play. The instrument's body is often covered with stretched animal skin, and it's played by resting it between the knees while kneeling, using a bow to draw across the strings and fingers to lightly press against the frets.  Key Characteristics: Type: Bowed string instrument.  Origin: Bengal, West Bengal.  Sound: Deep, layered, and melodious, with a vocal quality that can mimic the human voice.