Bhopal: Under the popular museum series 'Exhibit of the Month' of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, a traditional object is displayed in the appearance for a whole month. The exhibit for the month of November, 2017 is "Dotara".  The Director, IGRMS,- Prof. Sarit Kumar Chaudhuri and Mr. Herv'e Jounot, (Insurance counsellor, Paris, France), Dr. Surendra Bhayana, (Controller, Anik Milk Product, Dewas) inaugurated Exhibit of the month at Veethi Sankul indoor exhibition building. This exhibit of the month has been collected and compiled by Dr. (Smt.) Sudeepa Roy (Assistant Keeper).

Dotara, a plucked string instrument from folk community of Birbhum district, West Bengal constitutes to be an indispensable instrument of the folk music of West Bengal. It largely occupies a predominant place in the Baul Sangeet of the state. The instrument is also connected with distinct names by different ethnic communities in different regions.

India evolved a wide variety of musical instruments. Archaeological excavations and ancient texts reveal a highly developed musical culture. These instruments producing melodic sounds are used in accompanying vocal music. Traditionally musical instruments are categorized into four categories based on the typological functions. These are Sushira (Wind instrument), Avanaddha (Percussion instrument), Ghana (Solid Metal instrument), Tata (String instrument). Several kinds of strings instruments and war drums are mentioned in the Vedic Literature as well as in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.-Windowtonews