India has a very rich tradition of music and dance. Since ancient times, people in India have sung songs and played music in a special way. Even the Vedas were sung in a musical tone. Music developed greatly during the Mughal period, and many musical instruments were created. Important classical instruments include shehnai, tabla, santoor, sitar, veena, and flute. Folk instruments like dhol, nagara, mridanga, khol, dotara are used in different regions.
Dance is also an important part of Indian culture. India has hundreds of dance forms. Among them, the Government of India has recognised eight classical dances. These are: Kathakali (Kerala), Mohiniyattam (Kerala), Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Odissi (Odisha), Kathak (North India), Manipuri (Manipur), Sattriya (Assam)