Nal Tarang Artist Jyoti Chaudhary Judges Shahdol Group Singing Competition

Nal Tarang artist Jyoti Chaudhary took on the role of a judge at the Central Regional Group Singing Competition organised by the Swami Vivekananda branch of Bharat Vikas Parishad in Shahdol.

Chaudhary is known for playing the unusual Indian musical instrument Nal Tarang. She has built a distinct identity through her performances at national and international levels. Her participation as a judge gave special importance to the competition, which brought together group singing performances.

Nal Tarang is a unique musical instrument made with metal tubes of different lengths. The tubes are arranged according to musical notes, and melodious sounds are produced by striking them in a special way. One of the most distinctive features of the instrument is that music is performed using gun barrels.

Nal Tarang is linked to the famous musical tradition of Maihar in Madhya Pradesh. Ustad Alauddin Khan Sahib, a renowned musician, carried out several experiments in the field of music and gave the Maihar musical tradition a special identity. Nal Tarang is also an important part of this distinctive musical heritage.

Chaudhary performed Nal Tarang at a programme associated with the G-20 in 2023. She also presented her art during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public meeting in Satna on 9 November 2023.

At that programme, before his speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself requested Jyoti Chaudhary to perform on the instrument. He also praised her presentation. A video of the programme is available.

Jyoti Chaudhary has also been described as the only Nal Tarang player in the world. Independent confirmation of this claim may be required. However, her dedication to the rare instrument and her performances on different platforms have given her a distinct identity.

There are many traditional musical instruments in India about which the new generation knows very little. Nal Tarang is one of them. Giving such instruments recognition and informing people about them is important for taking India’s musical traditions forward.

The Central Regional Group Singing Competition highlighted both collective singing and the diversity of Indian music. Group singing strengthens the feeling of patriotism and togetherness, while an instrument such as Nal Tarang introduces people to the variety and rich heritage of Indian music. Through her role as a judge, Chaudhary’s presence connected the competition with this rare musical tradition.