Festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor at Chennai. The Arubathimoovar festival is celebrated in Chennai. Arubathimoovar refers to the 63 saints of Shiva canonized for leading exemplary lives of devotion and penance. Bronze figures of these 63 saints adorn the magnificent Kapaliswar temple of Mylapore, Chennai. Once every year, they are carried in a colourful procession through the streets of Mylapore. The dance festival at Mamallapuram is enacted before an open air stage created 13 centuries ago. The incredible monolithic rock sculptures of the Pallavas next to the sea in this ancient city of Mamallapuram, is the venue of the dance festival. You can watch a very unique dance event where traditional dance forms of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Odissi which is presented by the very best exponents of the art besides folk dances.
Kanthuri festival is a truly secular festival where devotees flock to the shrine of saint Quadirwali, believed to do equal good to people of all faiths. One of the descendants of the Saint is chosen as a Peer or a spiritual leader and is honoured with offerings. On the tenth day of the festival, the Saint’s tomb is anointed with sandal wood, and later the holy sandal paste, renowned fore its healing powers is distributed to everyone. The Kavadi festival is dancing in a hypnotic trance to the rhythm of drums. Devotees of Muruga carry the Kavadi, a flower bedecked decoration, all the way up the Palani hills to fulfill their vow.
Come December, Chennai celebrates her priceless heritage of carnatic music and dance presented by a galaxy of star artistes. The temple city of Chidambaram pays special tribute to Lord Nataraja the Cosmic Dancer. The setting is truly divine, Chidambaram’s gold roofed temple, with pillars depicting lord Nataraja in 108 poses from Bharathanatyam, Tamilnadu’s classical dance. In January the sun sets into a pleasant holiday mood and Chennai gets a cool respite from her famous hot weather. Time for family outings to the colourful TTDC trade fair. The exhibition presents a panaroma of Tamilnadu, all her places of tourist interest, her cultural wealth and economic progress. Even though this is not a festival this exhibition draws large crowds and is celebrated like a festival.
Kartigai Deepam is celebrated by lighting rows of glittering earthen lamps outside each home. Also the joyous burst of fire crackers marks Tamilnadu’s festival of lights. Navarathri literally means the festival of nine lights taking unique and different forms in different states of India. It is celebrated at Chennai. This is celebrated to propitiate goddess Shakthi, for power, wealth and knowledge. At dawn of the day of Pongal families everywhere gather around a new earthen pot. As the pot of milk boils over signifying prosperity, a shout of Pongalo Pongal rents the air.
Tyagaraja festival is also celebrated here. Tyagaraja was a South Indian composer and Saint born in 1767, and is celebrated for many Telugu songs he composed in praise of Lord Rama. His life and works are a source of great inspiration to young poets and musicians. South Indian musicians gather at the composer’s memorial to sing in his memory. Young artists believe that they will be blessed with a melodious voice if they anoint the shrine with honey and sing Tyagaraja’s songs at his memorial. This is another festival which is celebrated with great enthusiasm at Chennai.
Chennai music and dance festival is a celebration of classical music and dance of South India held during mid December to mid January at Chennai. The festival is held at a number of venues around the city by various organizations. Besides the auditoriums, well known temple premises and heritage bungalows are used as venues. The month long dance and music extravaganza will have performances of eminent artists from all over India. The Margazhi festival of dance and music started early back in 1927, to commemorate the anniversary of Madras Music Academy every December, was later adopted by various organizations which held art festivals in different parts of the city.
The Tamil month of Margazhi is a sacred month of the Hindus. South Indian classical music which has its roots in devotion to the Gods, has been a traditional form of worship from time immemorial. This is a brief recap of all the festivals celebrated at Chennai.
Festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor at Chennai. The Arubathimoovar festival is celebrated in Chennai. Arubathimoovar refers to the 63 saints of Shiva canonized for leading exemplary lives of devotion and penance. Bronze figures of these 63 saints adorn the magnificent Kapaliswar temple of Mylapore, Chennai. Once every year, they are carried in a colourful procession through the streets of Mylapore. The dance festival at Mamallapuram is enacted before an open air stage created 13 centuries ago. The incredible monolithic rock sculptures of the Pallavas next to the sea in this ancient city of Mamallapuram, is the venue of the dance festival. You can watch a very unique dance event where traditional dance forms of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Odissi which is presented by the very best exponents of the art besides folk dances.
Kartigai Deepam is celebrated by lighting rows of glittering earthen lamps outside each home. Also the joyous burst of fire crackers marks Tamilnadu’s festival of lights. Navarathri literally means the festival of nine lights taking unique and different forms in different states of India. It is celebrated at Chennai. This is celebrated to propitiate goddess Shakthi, for power, wealth and knowledge. At dawn of the day of Pongal families everywhere gather around a new earthen pot. As the pot of milk boils over signifying prosperity, a shout of Pongalo Pongal rents the air.
Chennai music and dance festival is a celebration of classical music and dance of South India held during mid December to mid January at Chennai. The festival is held at a number of venues around the city by various organizations. Besides the auditoriums, well known temple premises and heritage bungalows are used as venues. The month long dance and music extravaganza will have performances of eminent artists from all over India. The Margazhi festival of dance and music started early back in 1927, to commemorate the anniversary of Madras Music Academy every December, was later adopted by various organizations which held art festivals in different parts of the city.
