---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/is-the-taus-still-played-in-sikh-kirtan'
title: 'Is the taus still played in Sikh kirtan?'
author:
  name: rajeevk
  url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-gb/user/0f961cccc99524ed'
date: '2026-10-19T15:06:41+00:00'
type: website
summary: 'The dilruba largely replaced the taus in the early 20th century; Bhai Baldeep Singh and players such as Kirpal Panesar have brought it back.'
tags:
  - 'Instruments & artforms'
image: 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
published: true
og:
  site_name: KalaSudha
  'image:url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
  'image:secure_url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg'
  'image:type': image/svg+xml
  'image:alt': KalaSudha
---
  [  Help ](/en-gb/help)     Is the taus still played in Sikh kirtan?  

1. [  Home ](/en-gb)
2. 
3. [ Help ](/en-gb/help)
4. 
5. Instruments & artforms
6. 
7. Is the taus still played in Sikh kirtan?
 
 

 

  FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# Is the taus still played in Sikh kirtan?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 The **[taus](/instrument/taus)** is played in Sikh kirtan again, though rarely. Darbar says the dilruba largely replaced it, and another source places that change in the early 20th century. Bhai Baldeep Singh researched older ragis across Punjab and Pakistan and worked to bring the taus back into Gurbani kirtan, and Darbar documents contemporary performances by Kirpal Panesar and Sandeep Singh.



 

 Was this answer helpful? [  ](/en-gb/user/login?flag_anon=faq_helpful-899&destination=/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/is-the-taus-still-played-in-sikh-kirtan)

 [  ](/en-gb/user/login?flag_anon=faq_not_helpful-899&destination=/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/is-the-taus-still-played-in-sikh-kirtan)

 

 Thanks for your feedback!

 

 ## Related pages

 1 page mentions this question

 

 ###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Taus The taus is a bowed, fretted lute with a peacock-shaped carved wooden body, used in Sikh Gurbani kirtan. Sikh tradition credits Guru Hargobind with creating it…     ](/en-gb/instrument/taus)
 
  

 

 

   [     Previous question Is the santoor related to the yangqin and the cimbalom?  ](/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/is-the-santoor-related-to-the-yangqin-and-the-cimbalom) [  Next question Should I buy a copper or a brass bayan?     ](/en-gb/faq/instruments-artforms/should-i-buy-a-copper-or-a-brass-bayan)