Tharai

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. The Tirumurai, a twelve-volume compendium of hymns dated from 6th to the 11th century CE, mentions the instrument.

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.

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. The name is derived from Kombu in Tamil language meaning cow's horn. Araivatta kombu tharai, is a variant of the same, which is a crescent-shaped brass instrument with araivatta meaning "crescent" in Tamil.

It may also be a longitudinal thin cylinder like a pole with up to 12 ft length, made up of wood, which produces a continuous sound if wind pressure is applied. 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.

Occasions
It is a traditional instrument played in South India, majorly by the Tamil people in Tamil Nadu. It is 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 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. It is also played with Thavil, a percussion instrument and Nadaswaram, a double reed wind instrument, commonly played in Tamil weddings, functions and rituals. The instrument is played in the background for the performance of Tamil folk dances such as Salangai attam.

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

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