The dramyin or dranyen is a traditional Himalayan folk music lute with six strings, used primarily as an accompaniment to singing in the Drukpa Buddhist culture and society in Bhutan, as well as in Tibet, Ladakh, Sikkim and Himalayan West Bengal. It is often used in religious festivals of Tibetan Buddhism. The instrument is played by strumming, fingerpicking or plucking. The dramyen, chiwang (fiddle), and lingm (flute) comprise the basic instrumental inventory for traditional Bhutanese folk music.
A Nepalese Dranyen, called a tungna (Nepali: टुङ्ना).
Bhutanese dranyen at the ethnography museum, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
A dranyen (centre) in the Horniman Museum, London, UK.
The music of Tibet reflects the cultural heritage of the trans-Himalayan region centered in Tibet, but also known wherever ethnic Tibetan groups are found in Nepal, Bhutan, India and further abroad. The religious music of Tibet reflects the profound influence of Tibetan Buddhism on the culture.
Monks playing dungchen, Tibetan long trumpets, from the roof of the Medical College, Lhasa, 1938
Monk with Gyaling and hats. Key Monastery Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India
Street musicians. Lhasa. 1993