The bansuri or bamboo flute) is an ancient wind instrument made of a single hollow shaft of bamboo with six or seven finger holes. Its name originates from the Sanskrit for wood, (bans) and the word for musical note[s], sur. Essentially a folk instrument, it is now considered a fully-fledged classical instrument in its own right, owing mainly to maestros such as Pannalal Ghosh and Hariprasad Chaurasia. The bansuri is deeply entrenched in the pastoral tradition of the cowherds of North India, most importantly as the instrument of Lord Krishna, a Hindu mythological deity, who is always depicted playing the flute.