The world's first parai music conference will be held on June 18 at The Santhalinga Adigalar Arts and Science Tamil College, Perur, Coimbatore district, in collaboration with Nimirvu Art Gallery and Peruradheena Educational Institutions. This festival features parai artists from throughout Tamil Nadu, as well as scholars and officials.
Coimbatore: The world's first parai music conclave will be held on June 18 at Perur in Coimbatore district, under the auspices of Nimirvu Art Gallery and Peruradheena Educational Institutions.
For the past 12 years, 'Nimirvu Kalaiyagam' has been engaged in art work in the field of Parai music all over the world, with the aim of playing Parai music all over the world. The academy is functioning in various platforms such as 'Parai Music Schools' to teach Parai music, 'People's Help Group' to help the artistes and 'Parai Research Centre' for books and field work.
Due to the initiative taken by Nimirvu Kalaiyagam, the diploma courses in 'Paraiyattam Art' are recognized and classes are conducted at Bharathiar University through Perur Adina Kayilai Gurumani Community College.
In this context, as an initiative to spread parai Music, the musical instrument of the Adi Tamils, to the people, nimirvu kalaiyagam and peruradheena educational institutions are jointly organizing the world's first parai music conference 'World General Parai Music Conference" - 2023'.
The parai music conference will be held on June 18 from 9 am to 9 pm at Thavaththiru Shanthalinga Adigalar Arts and Science Tamil College in Perur in Coimbatore district.
We need to familiarise the next generation with parai music not just as a cultural form but also as an applied musical instrument. As an initiative, an exhibition of more than 100 antiquities will be held. Arrangements have been made in the exhibition hall to introduce the parai troupes from all over the bar to the public and to bring information on the welfare schemes of the Government of Tamil Nadu for the folk artistes.
'Iraiyum Paraiyum' and 'Paraiyum', the first textbook for learning parai, which contains references to Parai music not only in Sangam literature but also in bhakti literature, will be released at the conference.
Seminars are held with the assistance of experienced researchers and parai field employees in order to promote Parai to the intelligent community. Like thirukkural, the music of parai, which is the common music of all people, can be referred to as world music.
In order to highlight its significance, 1330 parais will be recited in one place and at the same time under the name '1330 Thirukkural Paraipadai'. Cultural programmes of musical instruments from southern districts, rural areas and tribes will also be held.
In order to honour the parai artistes, artists, writers and organisations who have worked for parai will be given 'kalaiyaga' awards. Ministers of the Government of Tamil Nadu will be honoured with the awards.
Parai artists, scholars and government officials from all over Tamil Nadu will participate in this special conference. Representatives of parai committees from all over the world are attending the conference.