The bansuri is a side-blown flute made from a single piece of hollow bamboo. It is one of the most important instruments in Hindustani classical music. Unlike Western flutes, it has no keys or mechanical parts; the player produces different notes by covering six or seven finger holes. This simplicity allows the musician to perform 'meend' (gliding from one note to another) and microtonal ornamentations by partially covering the holes—techniques that are vital to the performance of Indian Ragas. The instrument is deeply associated with the Hindu deity Lord Krishna, who is traditionally depicted playing the bansuri. It produces a warm, breathy, and deeply meditative sound. In the 20th century, Pandit Pannalal Ghosh and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia elevated the bansuri from a folk instrument to a world-class concert instrument by developing larger, deeper-toned flutes.