--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-a-bansuri' title: 'What is a bansuri?' author: name: rajeevk url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/user/0f961cccc99524ed' date: '2026-10-18T23:30:16+00:00' type: website summary: 'A bansuri is a keyless transverse flute of bamboo with six or eight finger holes; the player shapes pitch with breath, lips and half-holing.' 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-in/help) What is a bansuri? 1. [ Home ](/en-in) 2. 3. [ Help ](/en-in/help) 4. 5. Instruments & artforms 6. 7. What is a bansuri? FAQ · Instruments & artforms # What is a bansuri? Updated 19 October 2026 A [**bansuri**](/instrument/flute) is a transverse flute cut from a single length of seasoned bamboo. It has no keys and no moving parts, only six or eight finger holes. The maker burns or drills the blow hole and the finger holes. The player controls pitch through the lips at the blow hole, breath pressure and **half-holing**, covering a finger hole in part, which gives the slides and bends of a raga. Until the 1940s it was not thought a concert instrument; Pannalal Ghosh made a larger [bansuri](/instrumental/hindustani-classical/bansuri-flute) for the classical stage. Was this answer helpful? [ ](/en-in/user/login?flag_anon=faq_helpful-704&destination=/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-a-bansuri) [ ](/en-in/user/login?flag_anon=faq_not_helpful-704&destination=/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-a-bansuri) Thanks for your feedback! ## Related pages 9 pages mention this question ### Artists (2) - [ Shanish Kumar Dr Shanish Kumar Gyawali plays bansuri in the Banaras tradition, trained by Vinod Prasanna and Dr Prahalad Nath, PhD from BHU, AIR ‘B High’ grade, Young Artist… ](/en-in/artist/shanish-kumar) - [ Ajay Prasanna Pandit Ajay Prasanna is a widely acclaimed international flautist from a distinguished musical family. He carries the legacy of his father, Pandit Bholanath… ](/en-in/artist/ajay-prasanna) ### Events (6) - [ Bansuri Workshop in London with Pandit Ajay Prasanna Three hours with Grammy-nominated Pandit Ajay Prasanna, 19 Aug, 6 to 9 PM. All ages, all instruments, beginner to advanced. ](/en-in/event/bansuri-workshop-in-london-with-pandit-ajay-prasanna) - [ London Ragas: Breath into Sound | Pandit Ajay Prasanna Pandit Ajay Prasanna brings Banaras bansuri to London Ragas, with Kayam Hussain on tabla. 20 Aug, The Tate Institute, doors 6:45 PM ](/en-in/event/london-ragas-breath-into-sound-pandit-ajay-prasanna) - [ Raga Unison at Southampton: Wind, Drums and Strings | Double Bill Concert A double-bill concert of outstanding South Asian music, by the finest of their craft. Visiting artist and three-time Grammy nominee Ajay Prasanna jams with… ](/en-in/event/raga-unison-at-southampton-wind-drums-and-strings-double-bill-concert) - [ Raga Unison at Edinburgh: Wind, Drums and Strings | Double Bill Concert 3X Grammy-nominated flautist Pt. Ajay Prasanna with Tabla maestro Shahbaz Hussain, guitarist Giuliano Modarelli & Pt. Debasis Chakroborty. ](/en-in/event/raga-unison-at-edinburgh-wind-drums-and-strings-double-bill-concert) - [ London Ragas Fusion: Flute, Piano, Tabla & Ghatam in Dialogue Grammy-nominated flautist Pt. Ajay Prasanna with Tabla maestro Shahbaz Hussain, pianist Rekesh Chauhan & ghatam artist RN Prakash. ](/en-in/event/london-ragas-fusion-flute-piano-tabla-ghatam-in-dialogue) - [ Oxford Raga Unison: Duet of Winds and Drums Two living legends of their craft at the Oxford.Featuring Grammy-nominated bansuri master Pt. Ajay Prasanna & Tabla maestro Kousic Sen. ](/en-in/event/oxford-raga-unison-duet-of-winds-and-drums) Show all 6 events ### Instruments (1) - [ Flute The bansuri is a keyless bamboo flute linked with Krishna. Pannalal Ghosh made it a Hindustani concert instrument in the 1940s, and Hariprasad Chaurasia… ](/en-in/instrument/flute) [ Previous question What instruments play with the nadaswaram? ](/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/what-instruments-play-with-the-nadaswaram) [ Next question What is a chitraveena? ](/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-a-chitraveena)