Kochi band uses handpans and didgeridoo for meditative sound journeys

The Handpan Ensemble, formed in early 2026 in Kochi, creates ambient sound experiences using handpans, didgeridoo, morchang, djembe, and instruments that mimic rain and water. The four-member band, Safran Peter, Jagath Pavan, Rahul, and Sidharth, focuses on helping people slow down, dance, or lie back and listen rather than playing conventional songs.

The group came together at a Fort Kochi drum club, where they met travellers and musicians who introduced them to the handpan, a modern Swiss steel percussion instrument. Jagath also picked up the didgeridoo from a Spanish musician in Fort Kochi. They are not full-time musicians and mostly practise during weekend jam sessions at Jagath's studio.

The ensemble offers two formats: ecstatic dance and sound journeys. In a sound journey, audiences may lie down and absorb the sounds, which are sometimes just noises rather than structured music. The handpan, invented in the early 2000s, produces soft melodic notes, while the didgeridoo adds a deep continuous tone.