Archaeologists at the Dholavira site in western India have discovered a group of high-status musical instruments that suggest a vibrant tradition of seasonal music. The find consists of four tourmaline-incrusted terracotta ocarinas, each tuned to a different pentatonic scale. These instruments were likely used to perform specific melodies during a 'Monsoon-Greeting' festival, intended to propitiate the deities of the wind and rain.
According to the South Asian Archaeology Today, the ocarinas were located in a specialized residential quarter for artisans and musicians. The presence of indigo-stained bone ornaments nearby suggests that performers may have worn elaborate blue costumes to mirror the color of the coming storm clouds. This discovery highlights the role of professional musicians in the civic life and ritual calendar of the Indus Valley Civilization.