Parai

In Tamil, the word parai means "to speak" or "to tell". The exact origin of the instrument is not clear. The instrument was one of the ancient native music instruments developed and used by the Tamil people. Parai is mentioned in Sangam literature and was used to make announcements, with the announcers termed as Paraiyar. Kuṟuntokai from the Sangam period mentions the usage of the parai instrument in auspicious occasions. The Tirumurai, a twelve-volume compendium of hymns dated from 6th to the 11th century CE, mentions the instrument. Parai attam is the dance form associated with the instrument and according to Hindu mythology and folk stories, it is believed that the notes for the dance originated from gods Shiva and Parvati. == Construct and variations ==

on left It consists of a shallow circular ring made of wood of diameter , made from hardwood such as from the jack fruit tree. Earlier, hemp or jute was used to tie the skin to the ends but nowadays leather straps and ropes are used with glues and nails. The instrument is called by various other names including murasu, kudamula and panchamukha vadhyam. Two sticks made of peepul tree or bamboo are used to beat the drum. == Technique ==

In paraiattam (also called thappattam), the player of the instrument is also the dancer. The parai is slung by a cloth strap called Nadai (though leather straps are also used) over one shoulder vertically and is held between the other hand and the performer's body. While the instrument was generally played by males, females have also been known to partake in the same. == Usage ==

It is a traditional instrument used in South India, majorly by the Tamil people in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka and other regions with Tamil diaspora such as South East Asia and Caribbean. The drums were used for multiple purposes including signaling people to gather, alerting them to upcoming wars and announcing victory or defeat, breach of water bodies, gathering farmers for farming, warning about wild animals. It is also commonly played during festivals, folk dances, weddings and functions. The instrument is played in Hindu temple processions accompanying Hindu gods and goddesses. It is used in the worship of traditional Tamil deities like Muneeswarar. The instrument is generally played with Tharai, a traditional woodwind instrument in Tamil festivals and folk arts. Apart from the standalone parai attam dance, the instrument accompanies with the performance of Street theatre (therukoothu) and various folk dance forms such as Karakattam, Oyilattam etc. In the 21st century, variations and fusion of other music and dance forms with parai have been developed such as Parai Bharatham, a fusion of parai music with Bharatanatyam and mixtures with other western dance forms. == In popular culture ==

The English word paraiah, denoting an outcast, was derived from the name of the instrument. In India, the people who played the instrument were mostly Dalits, who were known as Pariyar and the term was used earlier in a demeaning tone to describe the people by the Brahmins and other dominant castes. Tharai Thappattai was a Tamil language film, directed by Bala and released in 2016. Its music director, Ilaiyaraaja, is known to use traditional instruments including parai in the compositions. ==See also==