From Folk Fields to Global Festivals: Punjabi Instruments Take Centre Stage Worldwide

The sound of Punjab resonates across generations and continents—it isn't just heard.

xPunjabi music is not just rhythm; it's identity. At the core of that identity are the characteristic instruments that have been defining Punjabi culture for centuries. These instruments are no longer confined to folk stages; they have become global pop culture icons, courtesy of artists such as Gurdas Maan, Hans Raj Hans, Sidhu Moose Wala, and Diljit Dosanjh. Tumbi, with its rather sharp twang, is one of the most recognised Punjabi sounds there is. Once central in folk songs, it is now sampled in global remixes, Bollywood tracks, and live concerts. Gurdas Maan popularised it in songs like "Challa", where tumbi set the emotive tone of the music. Modern producers continue to utilise the instrument to add