Parai

Parai also known as Thappattai or Thappu is a traditional percussion instrument from South India, used to make announcements and played during festivals, folk dances, weddings and functions. It is played predominantly by the Tamils in Tamil Nadu, and in other regions with significant Tamil diaspora such as Sri Lanka. Although there are many variants of the instrument, it generally consists of a drum made of wood, open on one side and closed with a stretched animal hide on the other side along with two wooden sticks used for beating the drum.

The instrument finds mention in the Sangam literature and has been used by the ancient Tamil people. It is used as a part of parai attam, a traditional dance form. While thappu was a similar instrument used by tribal people, with minor variations, the names were used interchangeably since the late Middle Ages. It might be played along with tharai, a woodwind instrument, in folk dances and festivities or accompanied by other traditional instruments in rituals and functions.