Thappu: India musical instrument

The thappu is a frame drum of India. The musical instrument is made up of a circular wood frame, having one end of it closed with the use of cow skin membrane and the other end of the musical instrument is left open. The musical instrument is played with the use of two sticks. One of the sticks is larger than the other. The musical instrument is played in dances, funerals, temple festivals and some other events like sports events. The musical instrument is also played to invoke the deities at madrasi temples.

Kurunthokai mentions that the thappu was used as an auspicious musical instrument in wedding. The musical instrument was also used to alert the people in flood time. A kind of thappu known as Ari parai was used in harvest time to make the bird fly off from the fields. Another version of the musical instrument known as Perum Parai is seen only in the Kongu Nadu region of Thamil Nadu.