Srinagar, Nov 6, Nov. 7 -- The rabab, often regarded as the soul of Kashmiri music, is witnessing renewed demand, with traditional craftsmen receiving orders from across the country and abroad, keeping alive an age-old artistic tradition.Carved primarily from mulberry wood and known for its distinctive shape and rich resonance, the rabab has 16 to 17 strings and occupies a special place in Kashmir's Sufi and folk music. Though believed to have originated in Afghanistan, the instrument is thought to have reached Kashmir centuries ago, possibly during the reign of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin in the 15th century.For Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, a third-generation rabab maker from Narbal in central Kashmir's Budgam district, the craft has evolved from a fami...