Tharai Explained

Tharai
Image Capt:A traditional Tharai made of metal (along with Thappattai)
Names:Thaarai
Classification:Wind instruments

Tharai or Thaarai is a wind instrument from South India. It is a traditional instrument played during festivals, folk dances, weddings and functions. The instrument in played predominantly in Tamil Nadu and in some parts of Kerala. There are many variants of the instrument, including longer and shorter versions, curved or straight and the outer pipe may be made of metal or wood. The instrument might be played along with Thappattai, a percussion instrument in folk dances and festivities or accompanied by traditional Thavil and Nadaswaram in rituals and functions.

History

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.[1] [2] The Tirumurai, a twelve-volume compendium of hymns dated from 6th to the 11th century CE, mentions the instrument.[3] [4]

When sage Agastya propagated the details of Siddha medicine to the other sages, he was welcomed by a procession with music including the traditional tharai.[5]

Construction and variants

The instrument may be curved or straight. The curved version like a "s" is generally made of a metal or alloy like brass similar to Kombu.[6] [7] The name is derived from Kombu in Tamil language meaning cow's horn.[6] [8] [7] Araivatta kombu tharai, is a variant of the same, which is a crescent-shaped brass instrument with araivatta meaning "crescent" in Tamil.[6]

It may also be a longitudinal thin cylinder like a pole with up to length, made up of wood, which produces a continuous sound if wind pressure is applied.[3] [9] There are two variants of the same: a shorter version known as Kuttathaarai with kutta meaning short in Tamil and a longer version known as Nedunthaarai with nedu meaning long or far in Tamil.[10] [11]

Occasions

It is a traditional instrument played in South India, majorly by the Tamil people in Tamil Nadu.[12] It is commonly played during festivals, folk dances, weddings and functions.[13] [14] The instrument is played in Hindu temple processions accompanying Hindu gods and goddesses.[15] [16] It is used in the worship of traditional Tamil deities like Muneeswarar.[17]

The instrument is generally played with Thappattai, a traditional percussion instrument in Tamil festivals and folk arts and might be accompanied sometimes by other traditional instruments such as Urumi melam in Kerala and Naiyandi melam.[16] [2] It is also played with Thavil, a percussion instrument and Nadaswaram, a double reed wind instrument, commonly played in Tamil weddings, functions and rituals.[18] The instrument is played in the background for the performance of Tamil folk dances such as Salangai attam.[9] [14]

The instrument has also been played and showcased in urban festivals like the Chennai Sangamam in Chennai and Tamil Thiruvizha in Coimbatore.[19] [20]

In popular culture

Tharai Thappattai was a Tamil language film, directed by Bala and released in 2016.[21] Music director Ilaiyaraaja is known to use traditional instruments including tharai in the compositions.[22]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Ramkumar, Nithyau. Harihara the Legacy of the Scroll. 2016. 978-9-352-01769-0. Frog in well. ..Thaarai and thappattai, native instruments of Tamil people...
  2. Book: Kiruṣṇan̲, Rājam. When the Kurinji Blooms. 2002. 124. 978-8-125-01619-9. Orient BlackSwan.
  3. Web site: Tharai:Ancient music instruments mentioned in thirumurai. Shaivam.org. 1 December 2023. ta.
  4. Book: Das, Sisir Kumar. A history of Indian literature, 500-1399: from courtly to the popular. 2005. Sāhitya Akādemī. 978-81-260-2171-0.
  5. Book: Karthigayan, P. History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu. 2016. 978-9-352-06552-3. Notion Press. procession of Siddhas around South Podhigai playing musical instruments like nagarimelam, thuthari, thaarai...
  6. News: Sahodaran’s calendar now features unusual Indian musical instruments. Priyadarshini. Paitandy. The Hindu. 15 December 2021. 1 December 2023.
  7. Book: Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life. 4. 2009. 949. Gale. Pennsylvania State University. Jeneen Hobby. Timothy L. Gall. music played on instruments such as the tharai, an S shaped horn.
  8. Kombu Thaarai. Kailaya Vathyam. ta. 1 December 2023.
  9. News: In Tamil Nadu's Erode, Men Wear 2-kg Ghungroo To Perform Local Dance Salangai Attam. News18. 27 November 2023. 1 December 2023. including tharai (ancient 12-feet trump), tappatti (drum), matthalam (dholak).
  10. Kutta Thaarai. Kailaya Vathyam. ta. 1 December 2023.
  11. Nedun Thaarai. Tamilnadu Music instruments. ta. 1 December 2023.
  12. Book: Global Encyclopaedia of the South Indian Dalit's Ethnography. 2006. Global Vision Publishing House. 720. Some of their musical instruments are moolam, nayanam, kulal, tharai, ....
  13. Book: Communication as Mission. Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 2007. Jose. Joseph. L.. Stanislaus. 124. 978-8-184-58006-8.
  14. Book: Singh, K. S.. People of India: Tamil Nadu. 2001. Anthropological Survey of India. tharai, thappattai and kaithalam. They perform folk dances..
  15. News: Ekkalam: Trumpet for that folksy touch. ...play instruments such as tiruchinnam, ekkalam, tharai and come in a procession.... The Hindu. 7 February 2009. 1 December 2023.
  16. Book: Baliga, B.S.. Madras District Gazetteers: Tiruchirappalli. 1998. Superintendent, Government Press. 234. ..taken to the temple in a big procession with mela dhalam, tharai thappatai and crackers..
  17. Web site: Muneeswarar Stotram. Shastras.com. 1 December 2023.
  18. Book: The Indian Factories Journal. 99. 2002. Cornell University. 217. such as Melam, Nathaswaram, Thavil, Parai, Thaarai, Thappattai, Urimi Melam, Naiyandi Melam and Band etc..
  19. News: Pongal takes a different flavour at Tamizhar Tiruvilla. 17 January 2019. The Times of India. 1 December 2023. performances like silambam, oyilattam, poi kaal attam, parai and tharai thappattai, among others..
  20. News: Dance forms galore to enthrall Chenaiites. 16 May 2012. The New Indian Express. 1 December 2023. Traditional dance forms include ..., Tharai...
  21. News: When Director Bala Called Varalakshmi Her Favourite Actress For This Reason. 22 December 2023. News18. 1 December 2023.
  22. News: An Artiste of the Millennium: Ilaiyaraaja at 75. The Wire. 1 December 2023. He used authentic instruments like tharai and thappattai (Parai drums)...

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