AKILESH SISTA---SOUTH INDIAN RAGAS

The veena, also spelled vina is any of various chordophone instruments from the Indian subcontinent. Ancient musical instruments evolved into many variations, such as lutes, zithers and arched harps.The many regional designs have different names such as the Rudra veena, the Saraswati veena, the Vichitra veena and others.
The South Indian Saraswati veena, used in Carnatic classical music, is a lute. It is a long-necked, pear-shaped lute, but instead of the lower gourd of the North Indian design, it has a pear-shaped wooden piece. However it, too, has 24 frets, four melody strings, and three drone strings, and is played similarly. It remains an important and popular string instrument in classical Carnatic music.
As a fretted, plucked lute, the veena can produce pitches in a full three-octave range.The long, hollow neck design of these Indian instruments allows portamento effects and legato ornaments found in Indian ragas.It has been a popular instrument in Indian classical music, and one revered in the Indian culture by its inclusion in the iconography of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of arts and learning.