The story
Miraj was a princely state whose rulers supported classical music, and the town drew singers and musicians, including the Kirana gharana's Abdul Karim Khan. Local craftsmen, many from the Sikalgar community, began making and repairing sitars and tanpuras using dried gourds from nearby fields and seasoned wood. Families have passed the skill down for generations, and the Miraj sitar and tanpura got GI tags in 2024.
In numbers
Miraj Tanpura is a registered GI (Application No. 791, Certificate No. 580 dated 30-03-2024); the applicant is Soultune Musical Instrument Producer Company Limited.
GI Registry (IP India) – Application No. 791, Miraj Tanpura · 2024Miraj Sitar is a registered GI (Application No. 793, Certificate No. 582 dated 30-03-2024); the applicant is Miraj Musical Instrument Cluster.
GI Registry (IP India) – Application No. 793, Miraj Sitar · 2024
GI tag
- Miraj TanpuraApplication no. GI Application No. 791, Certificate No. 580 (30-03-2024)GI Registry (IP India) – Application No. 791, Miraj Tanpura
- Miraj SitarApplication no. GI Application No. 793, Certificate No. 582 (30-03-2024)GI Registry (IP India) – Application No. 793, Miraj Sitar
Ways in for a newcomer
- Online sale and export of GI-tagged instruments to students and performers abroad
- Repair, re-stringing and tuning services for music schools
- Accessory supply: strings, bridges, covers and cases
- Music-tourism workshops for visitors
Problems the cluster faces
- Shortage of good gourds and seasoned wood
- Slow, skilled work with few young apprentices
- Competition from cheap factory-made instruments
- Small, irregular demand