Guwahati: A five-day workshop on Bodo traditional instruments began at Bathowpuri Bodo High School here on Sunday.

"The younger generation is more attracted towards Western musical instruments than the traditional ones of a community owing to lack of awareness, said Anil Kumar Boro, an associate professor of the folklore research department of Gauhati University.

"Western musical instruments have a great exposure as there are several schools for western music. Only a few schools and colleges in Assam have music as a course. Schools that impart training on traditional instruments of various communities are also very few. Therefore, aspiring musicians become more attracted towards Western musical instruments like the guitar than the traditional ones such as kham, sifung and serja of the Bodo communities," he said.

Kham is a long drum made of wood and goat skin, while siphung is a long bamboo flute with only five holes instead of six as the north Indian bansuri. It is longer and produces a much lower tone. Serja is a violin-like round instrument.

"It is difficult to understand the root of traditional instruments in five days. Only a handful of young students are interested in their traditional music," he added.

The workshop has been organised by the Guwahati district committee of the All Bodo Students Union (Absu), the All Bodo Women Welfare Federation (ABWWF) and the All Bodo Harimu Afad (Abha).

"The workshop aims to encourage its participants to practice the music of the Bodo communities. We still have to bring elderly musicians from Sonapur and Udalguri to play traditional musical instruments. The number of such musicians is decreasing," said Anjalu Muchahary, the president of the Absu's Guwahati committee.

"The workshop is free for all and open to all. Training will be provided by experts from Dimoria," Muchahary said.

Swarna Prabha Chainary, the head of the Bodo department of the university, said, "Traditional musical instruments are part of culture and tradition of any community."