The sounds of a harp-like instrument called the yazh, named for the mythological animal Yali whose image was carved into its stem, once filled the halls of temples and royal courts in southern India.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari proposes replacing harsh vehicle horns with melodies from Indian instruments like flute, tabla, and violin to reduce noise pollution and promote India's musical heritage.

The country's transportation minister says he will introduce a measure to replace all vehicle horns with the sounds of traditional Indian musical instruments. He's also looking into changing sirens.