BOBBILI VEENA

Bobbili is a town in the Vizianagaram district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Bobbili veena is a large plucked string instrument used in Carnatic classical music. The Veena is named after Bobbili, a place where it was invented. In 2011 the musical instrument got a Geographical Indication tag from the Government of India. A Bobbili Veena is carved from a single piece of jack wood. Exquisitely designed veenas and Tamburas are carved from a single piece of jack wood. The artisans over the years have diversified the craft to make miniature veenas as decorative art pieces. The uniqueness of the Bobbili is that they are carved out of a single log of wood. Such Veenas are called Ekandi Veena.