Culture of Chennai

Culture of Chennai, gateway to the South, is distinctly different from that of any other city in India. Being a cosmopolitan city, the culture of the city reflects its diverse population. The traditional arts grow and flourish in this city. Traditional music, dance and all other art forms of Tamil Nadu are very popular in the city.

Culture of Chennai is a unique blend of traditional foods to fast foods, from ancient temple architecture to modern high-rises and from classical music and dance to the growing nightlife in the city. You can find a school of dance and music in almost every neighborhood of the city. The land of temples and priests, kaapi and Chennai Checks reflects its traditionalism every December when the music season is in full swing. The rich and varied culture of Chennai also represented by the several festivals celebrated here.

Festivals in Chennai

Just like the other Indian places, Chennai also celebrates a number of festivals. The festivals are mainly based on the agricultural activities and according to the position of the stars and planets. Pongal is one of the famous festivals celebrated in the month of January. It is celebrated to mark the harvesting of crops by farmers. The other festivals include:

- Arubathimoovar Festival:
- Chithirai Festival:
- Dance Festival - Mamallapuram:
- Kanthuri Festival:
- Kavadi Festival:
- Music Festival:
- Mahamagam Festival:
- Natyanjali Dance Festival:
- Summer Festival:
- Tourist Fair
- Tayagaraja Festival:
- Velankanni Festival:
- Karthigai Deepam:
- Navratri:
- Saral-Vizha:

Music, Dance and Drama in Chennai

Classical music shows are very popular in Chennai. Chennai is also known for the classical Indian dance, the Bharatanatyam, which is also the official dance of Tamil Nadu. The city has a vibrant theatre scene, with a large number of Tamil plays being performed. School and college cultural festivals (locally called culfests) play an important role by providing platforms for the city's youth to indulge in art and culture of Chennai. Chennai is the base for the large Tamil movie industry, dubbed Kollywood after the locality of Kodambakkam.

Art in Chennai

Chennai is an important centre of Tamil art, crafts and culture. There are a number of art centers that add to the artistic diversity of culture of Chennai. Chennai hosts a range of events from classical and contemporary concerts and theatre to art exhibitions and trade shows. Some popular centers of art in Chennai are:

The Krishnamurti Foundation India:
C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation:
Victoria Training Institute:
Cholamandal Artist Village:
Dakshinachitra:

People of Chennai

The majority of residents in Chennai are native Tamilians and descendants of settlers from different part of Tamil Nadu. There are also sizeable native Telegu and migrant Malayalee communities in the city. Some portion of Chennai population comprises of Anglo Indian, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati and Marwari communities and people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Chennai also has a growing expatriate population especially from the United States, Europe and East Asia who work in the industries and IT centers.