• The romance of the single-stringed fiddle may stir up childhood memories of a lone hawker playing popular film hits on his instrument, made of bamboo.
• The single-stringed fiddle also has a spiritual message.
• The single string representing Adhvaita, the non-duality of the Supreme from which emanates the whole universe, like the seven notes emerging from the one single string.
• It has been a companion of poets, saints, bards and minstrels in different parts of the world.
• Meera and her legendary plucked ‘ektara’; or the the Bauls of Bengal are some examples.
• Most of the single-stringed fiddle belong to the ‘spike fiddle’ category due to their shape. Many are played solo, while most accompany singing or are a part of a larger orchestra.
• In India, the oldest known single-stringed fiddle is said to be the Ravanhattha , attributed to Ravana.
• Rajasthani folk musicians play a refined version of it with a main gut or nylo-gut string and several resonating strings.
• The Vicharti Jaati gypsies and Vaaghris of Kathiawad and Gujarat along with other indigenous communities play instruments with a coconut shell resonator and bamboo neck with a thin metal string.
• The sound is high-pitched, but sweet.
• Other notable indigenous fiddles are the Baana of the Bardic Pardhan Gonds of Madhya Pradesh and the Pulluvan Veena of Kerala.

Source: The Hindu