{{short description|Wind instrument originating from the Indian subcontinent}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{about|the musical instrument|the software|Pungi (software)}} thumb thumb|A man playing the pungi The '''pungi''', also known as '''bīn''' or '''Murli''', is a musical instrument that originates from the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a reservoir into which air is blown and then channelled into two reed pipes. It is played with no pauses, as the player employs circular breathing. In street performances, the pungi is used for snake charming.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 January 2016|title=Here's A Really Important Thing You Need To Know About Snake Charming|url=https://handluggageonly.co.uk/2016/01/26/heres-a-really-important-thing-you-need-to-know-about-snake-charming/|access-date=7 September 2020|website=Hand Luggage Only|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=FYI: Can Snakes Really Be Charmed By Music?|url=https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-11/fyi-can-snakes-really-be-charmed-music/|access-date=7 September 2020|website=Popular Science|date=12 September 2013 |language=en}}</ref>
==History== The pungi<ref>{{Cite news|date=1 June 2010|title=A Seductive Musical Affair – The UrbanWire|language=en-US|work=The UrbanWire|url=https://www.theurbanwire.com/2010/06/a-seductive-musical-affair/|access-date=7 April 2018|archive-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404073141/https://www.theurbanwire.com/2010/06/a-seductive-musical-affair/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Manzar|first=Osama|date=2 March 2016|title=Social media can save folk and oral wisdom|work=Mint|url=https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/6hNsMS6l4kJiW8bJFWXIBL/Social-media-can-save-folk-and-oral-wisdom.html|access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Fading sounds of tribal rhythms - Times of India|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Fading-sounds-of-tribal-rhythms/articleshow/16391458.cms|access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref> is a Hindu folk music reed pipe instrument<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U4IIAQAAMAAJ&q=Murli+instrument|title=Musical instruments of India: history and development|last=Avtar|first=Ram|date=1983|publisher=Pankaj Publications|language=en}}</ref> that is mostly played by cobra charmers<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/206044/our-dying-cultural-heritage/|title=Our dying cultural heritage - The Express Tribune|date=9 July 2011|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=7 April 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> in Sindh and Rajasthan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/art/6980-fusion-styles-cultures-continents-year-s-international-folk-festival|title=Fusion of styles, cultures & continents at this year's International Folk Festival - The Sunday Guardian Live|date=22 October 2016|work=The Sunday Guardian Live|access-date=7 April 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> The instrument is made from a dry hollowed gourd with two bamboo attachments.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=26KjbvxQ2jEC&q=Murli+instrument|title=Musical Instruments of the Lower Indus Valley of Sindh|last=Balocu|first=Nabī Bak̲h̲shu K̲h̲ānu|date=2012|publisher=Culture Department, Government of Sindh|language=en}}</ref> It is also a double-reed instrument.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kFwWDAAAQBAJ&q=Murli+instrument&pg=PA260|title=More Than Bollywood: Studies in Indian Popular Music|last1=Booth|first1=Gregory D.|last2=Shope|first2=Bradley|date=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199928835|language=en}}</ref> The pungi is played by Jogi in the Thar desert.<ref name="The Express Tribune">{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/617716/transcendental-tradition-under-the-spell-of-sindhi-snake-charmers/ |title=Transcendental tradition: Under the spell of Sindhi snake charmers |date=14 October 2013 |work=The Express Tribune |access-date=7 April 2018|language=en}}</ref>
It is in particular played by snake charmers, mostly in the Terai and Nepal, to arouse snakes to dance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nepali Musical Instruments - We All Nepali|url=http://www.weallnepali.com/art-and-culture/popular-nepali-original-musical-instruments |website=We All Nepali |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123111212/http://www.weallnepali.com/art-and-culture/popular-nepali-original-musical-instruments |archive-date=2023-01-23 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>
The instrument has a high, thin tone and continuous low humming.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rootsworld.com/rw/feature/asia-sub.html|title=Asian Sub-continent: India, Pakistan|website=www.rootsworld.com|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref>
It has been an important instrument in Indian folk culture and is known by various names in different parts of India. In northern India, it is known as the been, tumbi, and bansi; in the southern India, it is known as the magudi, mahudi, pungi, and pambaattikulhal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.schoolchalao.com/basic-education/show-results/indian-musical-instruments/pungi-or-been|title=Pungi or Been|first=Like This|last=Post|website=Schoolchalao.com|access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref>
==Construction== thumb|Pungi The pungi is constructed from a solid coconut cover, to which pieces of bamboo are joined, and has two components: a hollow vessel constructed from a gourd, and two pipes, each with a free-beating single reed (jivala).
The player blows air through the top tube-like portion of the instrument. One pipe makes drone-like sounds. and the other produces the melody. The pipe that produces the melody has seven holes and a range of one octave. The drone pipe only has one hole. Traditionally, both sounds are played simultaneously using circular breathing to create a hypnotic effect.
The pungi is usually played solo, as it is difficult to play it with other instruments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.india-instruments.com/windinstrument-details/pungi-snake-charmer-been-shapure-bansi.html|title=Details - India Instruments|website=India-instruments.com|access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref>
=== Ban on snake charming === The instrument was often used to entertain the public with snake charming. However, this practice was eventually banned throughout the country in 1991, under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
==See also== *Hulusi, a similar Chinese instrument. *Cimpoi, the Pungi's cousin. *Bag pipes *Bansuri
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkfNB9rC3iA Cobra Dance at Negombo Beach]
{{Indian musical instruments}} {{Single reeds}}
Category: Indian musical instruments Category: Pakistani musical instruments Category:Single-reed instruments