Pena is a mono string instrument falling in the

lute A lute ( or ) is any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity, usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted. More specifically, the term "lute" can ref ...

category, slightly similar to some of the traditional Indian stringed musical instruments such as the

ravanahatha A ravanahatha (variant names: ''ravanhatta'', ''rawanhattha'', ''ravanastron'', ''ravana hasta veena'') is an ancient bowed, stringed instrument, used in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and surrounding areas. It has been suggested as an ancestor of t ...

, ''ubo'' or the ''kenda''. It is the traditional musical instrument of

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

, used mainly in the

Lai Haraoba Lai Haraoba is a festival associated with the Meitei people celebrated to please the Umang Lai, the traditional deities of Sanamahism. Translated, Lai Haraoba means ''merry making of the Gods'' in Meiteilon. In this festival, the people worship ...

festival of

Sanamahism () , native_name_lang = mni , image = The Symbol of Sanamahi.svg , imagewidth = , alt = , caption = The Symbol of Sanamahism (Source: Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya) , ...

. Pena playing is becoming a dying art as only 145 active Pena players are reported in Manipur. The Center for Research on Traditional and Indigenous Art (Laihui), an organization headed by renowned pena player, Khangembam Mangi Singh has mandated vision to revive pena music.

History

The Pena, one of the oldest traditional Meitei musical instruments, was once a part of luxurious living and was played at the royal gatherings in

Kangleipak Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

Uses

*Yaikairol (for people to make wake up) *Lai-eekouba (by doing this to start Lai-haraoba festivals) *Khunung -Eesei (folk song) *Luhongba (marriage) *Wari-Liba (narrating story by using this musical instrument) * PuYa Paba (reading PuYa by using this musical instrument) Pena Players

Construction

The instrument consist of two parts, the main body, or which is similar to that of a violin and the bow, or , which is more resembling an archery bow than a violin bow. The main body is made out of bamboo, 10 to 11 inches long and 1 to 1.25 inches girth, which is fixed to a coconut shell cut in half, through two holes bore through the shell. Two additional holes are also drilled on the coconut shell for acoustic purposes, one of which is covered by dried animal skin such as

iguana ''Iguana'' (, ) is a genus of herbivorous lizards that are native to tropical areas of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The genus was first described in 1768 by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in his bo ...

skin and the other, left open. The tension of the string is controlled by a bamboo peg, called ''kaan'' and is fitted inside a hole drilled on the bamboo rod. A scroll, ''mogra'', is also tied to the instrument tail. The bow is wooden and bears a curved flourish at one end which is made of metal. In some parts, the bow also features tiny metal bells. The string is traditionally made of horse hair but, sometimes, metal strings and strings made out of wood fiber are also used.

Well-known performers

* Khangembam Mangi Singh * Guru N.G. Ibopishak * Leimapokpam Yaima * Mayanglambam Mangangsana

References

External links