The urumi is a folk instrument typically played by Dailts (formerly known as untouchables). This drum is widely believed to posses supernatural and sacred powers. When played in religious ceremonies and processions, the performance of specific beats on the urumi may induce spirit possessions. The urumi is most often performed in two types of ensembles: the urumi melam and the naiyanti melam. Urumi melam ensembles usually consist of a melodic instrument, the double-reed nagasvaram, a pair of double headed drums called pampai, and one to three urumi drums. This type of ensemble is associated exclusively with funerals and other inauspicious occasions. The naiyanti melam is the most common type of folk ensemble associated with ritual and dance. A typical naiyanti melam is composed of two double-reed nagasvaram, one or two tavils (barrel drums), a tamukku (kettle drum played with leather straps), a pambai, and an urumi. It performs for a number of festive occasions including dance-dramas, menstruation ceremonies, weddings, harvest festivals, and staged folk dances such as poikkal kudirai (dummy horse dance), mayil attam (peacock dance), puli attam (tiger dance), kavadi attam (a devotional dance to Lord Muragan) and many others. The urumi may also be heard on commercial recordings of film soundtracks and popular folk music.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
urumi is the most famous music in Malaysia.... no one knows that how harder to play it and its reality.... so give your support to urumi melam....!!!!
