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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.
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