The ektara is entertaining and simple to play. One string can give a variety of sounds by applying pressure at different points along the neck. The ektara is often called Gopiyantro, meaning one string. This instrument is one of the most important instruments used in Baul, a widely known and appreciated folk music in Bengal. Baul is not only a kind of music, but it is essentially a Bengali religious sect.
Ektaras are also commonly used in Kirtan chanting, which is a Hindu devotional practice. Along with its single string, an ektara has a head (made of dried pumpkin, wood, or coconut) covered in animal skin, and a pole neck or split bamboo cane neck. Pressing the two halves of the neck together changes the pitch, creating an unusual sound.
