| Karnal | |
| Background: | brass |
| Classification: | brass |
| Hornbostel Sachs: | 423.121 |
| Hornbostel Sachs Desc: | Natural trumpets – There are no means of changing the pitch apart from the player's lips; end-blown trumpets – The mouth-hole faces the axis of the trumpet. |
The karnal (Nepali:कर्नाल) is a large, straight brass trumpet, over a metre long, played in parts of Northern India and Nepal. It has a prominent bell resembling a datura flower.[1] It is used on ceremonial occasions, such as the processions of village deities.[2] It is often included among the five instruments of the Nepali pancai baja ensemble.