Watch: Shehnai, made famous by Ustad Bismillah Khan, gets GI tag

Varanasi’s rich cultural and craft heritage has earned national recognition, with several traditional products recently receiving Geographical Indication (GI) tags. Among the newly certified items are the Banarasi Shehnai, the iconic Banarasi Tabla, and the spicy Banarasi Bharwan Mirch — all officially recognised recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The GI certificate for the Banarasi Shehnai — a timeless musical instrument — was personally handed over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ramesh Kumar, a renowned artisan from Banaras, during a massive public event at Mehndi Ganj.

It gained global recognition through the legendary Ustad Bismillah Khan, whose soulful performances brought the instrument international acclaim. Published - April 15, 2025 04:53 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit.