There is no Tamil Nadu without the most remarkable Nagaswaram. The word 'Naga' meaning snake indicates it is related to the North-Indian shehnai. Everywhere you come you will hear the Nagaswaram .... sometimes terrible loud, amplified !

Nagaswaram has a double-reed and is bored conically in ebony. It has great volume and power, you can compare to the volume of a trompet or worse cause Tamils like loud music.

This instrument is mostly used outdoors for weddings, funerals, processions and temple music.

Here this man tried to make a living with his Nagaswaram and his small bull nicely outfitted. He was travelling alone with his small daughter, not in the picture, under a tree with yellow flowers ... while the wind was blowing under his loungi ... ( look how he put his fingers on the holes, very differant from how we do it. )

You can hear some examples by clicking here: a short Example I .. or a more typical Tamil artistic Example II with other instruments.(Put your speakers loud and feel yourself in Tamil Nadu !)

Also an old scan ....