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title: 'What instruments play with the nadaswaram?'
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date: '2026-10-19T19:02:28+00:00'
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summary: 'The nadaswaram leads the periya melam with the tavil drum, the ottu drone pipe and talam cymbals.'
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  FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# What instruments play with the nadaswaram?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 The **[nadaswaram](/instrument/nadaswaram)** leads the periya melam, the South Indian temple ensemble. The ensemble traditionally consists of nadaswaram, tavil drum, ottu, a drone reed pipe, and talam cymbals, organised around the lead nadaswaram player. The nadaswaram and tavil are mangala vadyam, instruments considered auspicious, and are heard together at temple rituals and Hindu weddings in South India.



 

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- [   Nadaswaram The nadaswaram is South India's principal double-reed instrument, for temple music, weddings and Carnatic concerts: aacha or jackwood body, circular breathing,…     ](/en-gb/instrument/nadaswaram)
 
  

 

 

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