Parai, important instrument of humankind, confined to a caste: Padma Shri awardee Velu Aasan

Parai artist Velu Aasan discusses the historical significance of the parai instrument and the importance of traditional games.

 “Parai, which was the most important communication tool of humankind, over the years, was restricted to a particular caste,” said Parai artiste and Padma Shri awardee Velu Aasan. 

He spoke at the prize distribution event of ‘Madurai Kramiya Olympic,’ conducted by Department of Museums here on Saturday. 

He said that the instrument which was given various names like ‘seithi,’ (news) parai, ‘por,’ (war) parai, ‘vaithiya,’ (medicinal) parai, among others, was used for different purposes starting from mourning to celebrating. 

When parai was performed at a person’s demise, it was to communicate with the people about the death of a beloved person, he noted. 

“Donning the role of ‘vaithiya,’ parai, it was also played with a belief that the reverberance of the instrument would wake up the dead person,” he said. 

The instrument, which would be seen in almost all ceremonies, was celebrated as part of the lifestyle until the stigma that got attached to it owing to several reasons, Mr. Velu Aasan added.  

Carnatic music which got introduced in between could not be used for mourning purposes, as people could not accept the way it was played, he stated.