Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s love for
traditional musical instruments is a well-known fact now. On Tuesday, during
his visit to Imphal, Manipur, where he inaugurated 13 Projects worth over Rs
1,850 crore, PM Modi played traditional musical instruments.

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Here are five incidents when PM Modi
enthralled people playing traditional musical instruments.

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Playing
Khasi drum

In May 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
tried his hand at playing the traditional Khasi drum during his two-day visit
to Meghalaya. Expressing keen interest in traditional folk art, PM Modi also
played other local musical instruments and sang and danced with the Khasi
tribals. He also interacted with leaders from at least 10 Himas (erstwhile
independent Khasi states).

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The prime minister was in Meghalaya to
address the 65th plenary session of the North Eastern Council.

Beating
the dholak

In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi beat
a traditional red dholak much to the delight of people, before he addressed a
public rally during the Chhattisgarh assembly election scheduled on November
20. He had also praised voters of the Maoist-hit Bastar region for the high
turnout despite the threats.

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Trying
hands at morin khuur

Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not keep
his interest in playing the drum limited to India only. During his
international tours as well, he played the drums. One such occasion came in
2015, during his visit to Mongolia, when PM Modi tried his hand at the morin
khuur, a traditional two-stringed fiddle that was gifted to him by the then Mongolian
President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. With President Elbegdorj standing by him, Modi
smilingly played the horse head fiddle for half a minute.

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“The morin khuur, music and
Mongolia…a unique gift from President @elbegdorj,” Modi tweeted.

Making
Africa dance

In 2016, during his tour to Africa, Narendra
Modi decided to try his hands at playing traditional Tanzania drums, and he did
a swell job of it. Previously the Prime Minister played the ceremonial Japanese
drums at the inauguration of the TCS Japan Technology and Cultural Academy, in
Tokyo, Japan on September 2, 2014.

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Playing
the drum in Glasgow

In November 2021, PM Modi played the drums
with members of the Indian community who were dressed in traditional kurta
pyjamas and turbans, gathered to bid goodbye before his departure from Glasgow,
Scotland. PM Modi was in Glasgow for the United Nations’ COP26 World Leaders’
Summit on climate change.