This dissertation contributes to the ethnomusicological literature on transnational musical borrowing of Indian music among Indian diasporic communities by discussing the Uṟumi Mēḷam and Damaru, two new Indian musical practices in Singapore. Instead of simply reproducing generic types of folk drumming ensembles from India, Singaporean practitioners adapted traditional practices from “home” in diasporic contexts while developing completely new practices that engage with the nation-building practices and the multicultural milieu of Singapore The practitioners of Singaporean u¿umi m¿¿ams and Damaru took different approaches to establish their musical practices. Singaporean u¿umi m¿¿ams have continued some performance practices from Tamil Nadu while making pragmatic changes to their instrumentation, expanding the types of events they perform, and engaging with emerging sociopolitical dramas. Damaru, on the other hand, is a singular ensemble that has taken pan-Indian influences, synthesized them, and created new artistic products, including theater productions and folk drumming lessons. These endeavors speak to and engage with Singapore¿s multicultural milieu. Another significant distinction between Damaru and Singaporean u¿umi m¿¿am is that Damaru includes women and non-Indian Singaporeans, while the u¿umi m¿¿ams restricted their membership to Singaporean Tamil males. From their humble beginnings as ritual music specialists at the rubber plantation estates in Malaysia to emblems of the Singaporean Indian community, the Singaporean u¿umi m¿¿ams and Damaru have carved a niche for themselves within Singapore¿s multicultural milieu. By studying Singaporean u¿umi m¿¿am and Damaru, we can understand how practitioners of new musical practices navigate the unique multicultural context of Singapore. They must engage in constant negotiations and contestations with government policies and audiences to sustain their musical practices. While shaping and reshaping their musical practices to fit the cultural milieu, practitioners have created musical practices unique to Singapore.