Banarasi Shehnai receives GI Tag: Recognizes the instrument’s specific origin and cultural significance tied to Varanasi.
Cultural Heritage: Reinforces Varanasi’s rich musical and craft heritage on a national level.
Traditional Wind Instrument: Highlights the Banarasi Shehnai’s place in the Banaras Gharana of Indian classical music.
Ustad Bismillah Khan’s Legacy: Acknowledges his role in popularizing the Shehnai globally. He elevated the Shehnai to prominence in Indian classical music with his performance at the Calcutta All India Music Conference in 1937. He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 2001.
Auspicious Instrument: Emphasizes its importance in weddings, religious ceremonies, and temple rituals.
Protection and Authenticity: The GI tag protects the Banarasi Shehnai from imitation, ensuring authenticity and quality.
Prime Minister’s Involvement: PM Modi presented the GI certificate to a Banarasi artisan, underscoring the importance of this recognition.
Other GI Tags: The article notes GI tags for Banarasi Tabla and Banarasi Bharwan Mirch, indicating a broader recognition of Varanasi’s unique products.
Benefits of GI Tag: Authorizes only those residing in the geographical territory to use the popular product name. It also protects the product from being copied or imitated by others.
Legal Framework: Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 & WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
