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Bena

The Bena is a fiddle-like, single-stringed, ancient folk instrument. It is native to the culture of the Rajbongshis, one of the earliest settlers in the region that came to be known at various times in its history as Pragjyotish, Kamrup and Kamatapur - a territory that now comprises North Bengal, most of present Assam, adjoining parts of Bihar, and various parts of North Eastern India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

The Bena folk instrument is intrinsically associated with their Kushan- pala or Kushan-Gaan. Pala gaan is a folk theatre format which employs song, dance and dialogue while telling a story and all such folk theatre forms always carry a suffix of "pala" (theatre) or "gaan" (song).  Kushan and Bena are in fact, firmly intertwined. One cannot take place without the other. The tune and the rhythm of the Kushan songs are such that it is only the Bena which is a suitable accompaniment.