One of the headline performers from this year's Yukon International Storytelling Festival lost the tool of his trade during his brief stay in Whitehorse.

Anwar Khurshid, the sitar player for Mehr, has lost the large guitar-like instrument that defines his role in the classical Indian music and dance troupe.

He told the Star Thursday afternoon from the music school he runs in Toronto the story of how his sitar was lost.

'I was in Crestview billeting with a family. At around 7 p.m., I went to the trail way right next to the house to practise and I played for about two hours. (When) the sun set and it started to get quiet, I decided to go and get a hat.'

Khurshid said he put the sitar in its case and out of view and went inside for about five minutes to get the hat.

'When I came back, the sitar was not there.'

Khurshid is not sure that the sitar was stolen and thinks someone may have just stumbled across it and taken it home.

'There were people that were walking by and they saw me practice,' he remembered. 'I am hoping they just kept it for safe keeping.'

Khurshid has filed a report with the Whitehorse RCMP. The sitar was lost three days ago.

'This is my sitar; this is what I use for performances and play it everywhere,' he said, explaining the importance of the instrument which he has had for four years.

But the experience hasn't soured Khurshid's view on the North.

'I hope I can come back to Yukon because I had such a great time there, hopefully on the same sitar.'

If anyone has any information about the missing sitar, he or she can contact Const. Ian Fraser of the Whitehorse RCMP.