Under the popular museum series ‘Exhibit of the Month’ of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, a traditional object is displayed in the appearance for a whole month.

The exhibit for the month of July 2024 Lohati- A Musical Instrument is on display in the indoor exhibition building–Veethi Sankul. The 'exhibit of the month' was inaugurated by Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha Managing Director Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation Bhopal Madhya Pradesh, on the occasion many dignitaries were present.

This object has been composed by Museum Assistant DR Mohan Goyal.On this occasion, the Director of the Museum, Dr. Amitabh Pandey welcomed Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Managing Director Bhopal by giving him a bouquet and honored him by presenting him the logo of the Museum.                              

About the exhibit displayed in the exhibition, Museum Assistant  DR Mohan Goyal said that the Lohati an iron bowl-shaped musical instrument covered with leather and decorated with deer horn and sword. It is the main musical instrument of the Oraon tribe of Chhattisgarh. It is also called Nishan, Gudum, Nagada, Seeng Baja or Gadwa Baja in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

This instrument is tied to the waist while dancing and played by moving around or standing and beating it with two leather sticks or a bathena made of pieces of tire. The artist who plays it is called Nishanha. Lohati is also used by many other communities. A rope and a belt to tie around the waist are tied on two sides of the lohati so that it can be hung on the wall or on the shoulder and carried from one place to another.

Lohati is one such important musical instrument, which is played along with Timki, Dafla, and Mohri in the group of folk instruments. The instrumentalists are proficient in playing their respective instruments. The composite sound of all the folk instruments makes the atmosphere joyful. The instrumentalist produces a variety of sounds by beating Lohati as per the requirement of the song.