SITARIST Anoushka Shankar's final performance on her European tour faced a significant hurdle when she lost her luggage in transit, which included her sitar essentials.
The incident occurred as she arrived in Berlin, where she was set to perform at the Berlin Philharmonic.
"Help!!! Anyone in Berlin play sitar and have mizrabs I can borrow for my show TONIGHT?! And any clothes smarter than my super casual travel gear?! Lost baggage strikes again!" Shankar appealed on X, tagging KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
Shankar, 43, the daughter of sitar icon Pandit Ravi Shankar, was touring Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Social media users quickly mobilized to assist her; some contacted local musicians, while others suggested shops selling Indian attire. However, there was no communication from Shankar until late Thursday night, when she posted on Instagram after the concert.
The performance turned out to be a success, and Shankar thanked the community for their support. She shared a photo of herself in a stylish black dress, holding her sitar and acknowledging Saurabh Shekhar Verma for lending her a mizrab.
"What a whirlwind our final date of tour was, from the moment we touched down in Berlin! Yesterday’s airline-displaced suitcase with my sitar kit including mizrab (custom-fitted finger pick), in-ear monitors, plus all of my show outfits and makeup, was a pretty gnarly start to the day! No matter though, because in true chaotic by-hook-or-by-crook tour fashion we sourced a locally-owned mizrab, makeup and more just in time for us to take to the stage for our sold out show at @berlinphil. (I’m glad I had one nice dinner outfit in my personal bag)," she remarked.
Despite the challenges, Shankar emphasized the importance of community support, stating, "How beautiful it is to have a crew and a wider community that comes together so quickly for a common goal."
She expressed her amazement at the speed of the social media response to her request, noting, "And what a special show it was—no time to settle or get comfortable. We played on the tips of our toes last night, feeding off the energy of our incredible, generous audience, so alert to each other, so responsive. I’ll never forget it. Special shout out to @saurabhshekharv for the borrowed mizrab- I couldn’t have played properly without it!"
In a humorous conclusion, she mentioned her backup plan, quipping that she would have used "duct tape, a roll of wire and little pliers" to create makeshift mizrabs if help hadn’t arrived.
This photograph taken on April 28, 2026 shows a boy getting "thali", a sacred thread tied to his neck symbolising marriage to Hindu warrior god Aravan during the annual Koovagam transgender festival at the Koothandavar temple in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district. For a few fleeting days each year, at the heart of the Koothandavar Temple where ostracised transgender community members from across India come to honour the Hindu deity Aravan, a tradition rooted in millennia-old Hindu texts -- and to enjoy a brief oasis of freedom.Getty Images
This photograph taken on April 29, 2026 shows a member of the transgender community mourning as a priest cuts the "thali", a sacred thread symbolising end of her marriage to Hindu warrior god Aravan during the annual Koovagam transgender festival at the Koothandavar temple in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district. For a few fleeting days each year, at the heart of the Koothandavar Temple where ostracised transgender community members from across India come to honour the Hindu deity Aravan, a tradition rooted in millennia-old Hindu texts -- and to enjoy a brief oasis of freedom. Getty Images
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