AInstrumentIndependent states
Zurna
A loud double-reed wind instrument, inseparable from open-air weddings and festivals together with the naghara.
The zurna is a conical wooden pipe that flares towards the bottom, with a short double reed at the top. Its sound is very loud and bright and carries far.
Zurna players often use circular breathing — pushing air from their cheeks while inhaling through the nose — so the sound never stops.
The zurna-and-naghara ensemble plays at weddings, holidays, Nowruz festivities and horse races. It usually consists of two zurna players and one drummer.
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Updated: October 1, 2026