As one walks inside Miraj, a historic city in Southern Maharashtra, the air is different. From the soulful music of sitar to the sound of scraping and hammering, the air is brimming with creativity and culture. The city was part of the princely state of Patwardhan and is known as the hub of music and a home to several musicians. The city is famous for its Sitars, Sarangis and Tanpuras that are made by artists who have been following this tradition since generations.Several top musicians across the globe have their musical instruments specially designed by the legendary craftsmen of this historic city.The glossy, shiny sitars and tanpuras look like pure works of art. With intricate paintings and sculpted designs, they cost from anywhere from around Rs 20,000 to Rs 80,000. But they have a secret that grows in fields and it is pumpkin. Yes! these beautiful music instruments have a secret that grows in the fields.
So are they the same pumpkins that we eat?Rajat Sitarmaker, a third-generation sitar maker from Miraj, says, “The kaddu (pumpkin) used in making instruments is not the regular kaddu that we consume. These are larger in size and are not meant for consumption. In fact, if we eat their seeds, they give us a headache.”These pumpkins grow in Pandharpur. They are much bigger than the regular pumpkins used for consumption. They are selected based on size (40–60 inches) for their superior acoustic resonance and are dried for months before being used. Drying hardens the pumpkins and makes them usable for instruments.
“The pumpkins cost us around Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 depending on their size and quality. There are different sizes for different instruments. For example, sitar pumpkins are different, and the sizes for male and female tanpuras also differ. Hence, the size of the pumpkins varies as well. The seeds are sown in the month of March. They grow by December, and by March they dry. It is during this time that the harvest begins.”It is not a one-person job; it is labour-intensive and time-consuming. For example, about ten people, including family members and workers, work in Rajat’s workshop.
So why pumpkin? Is wood not a substitute?Rajat says, “They are more musical, and they remain new for a minimum of 10 years and can last up to 50–60 years. It is labour-intensive, and the entire making process is completely natural and sustainable. The pumpkins are washed and cleaned, then shaped, and the entire process—from carving to colouring to decorative painting of motifs—is done by hand. In fact, it also provides employment to several people with disabilities. For example, we have a sitar maker called Mukesh who cannot hear or speak and is a skilled craftsman.”
But this traditional craft is not free from troubles. The size of the pumpkins has shrunk over the years, and Rajat blames climate change for it.“We need support from the government. The craft does not get the assured visibility it deserves, and whatever business we get right now is through social media or word of mouth. We need basic support such as pensions, free water, and electricity to at least sustain the craft, which has now shrunk to only a handful of houses in Miraj.”Miraj carries a centuries old artistic legacy which needs to be sustained because when a craft like this disappears, it is not just an instrument we lose—it is the music, the history, and the voices of generations that fall silent.
