Festivals
Arubathumoovar Festival (March-April)
The bronze idols of 63 Nayanmars from Kapaleeswarar Temple are taken out in procession through the streets of Mylapore during this festival. Thousands of devotees participate in the procession.
Chennai Music and Dance Festival (December-January)
Chennai celebrates her priceless heritage of Carnatic music and dance to present a galaxy of star artists, old and new.
Chennai Sangamam (December-January)
Celebrating India’s largest open festival with 2,500 artists, 4,500 performances and 25 lakh people, Chennai Sangamam is organised by Tamil Maiyam, a pre-eminent non-profit trust, in association with the Department of Tourism and Culture of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Pillaiyar Chaturthi/ Vinayagar Chathurthi (August-September)
Ganesh Chaturthi, popularly known as Pilliyar Chaturthi is celebrated
with a lot of gusto in Chennai. The state government has taken an
initiative towards making it eco-friendly by marking five spots in
Chennai for idol immersion, fixing the height of the idol to be made
and instructing in the preparation of the idol with eco-friendly or
natural materials.
Tourist Fair (January- February)
The exhibition presents a panorama of Tamil Nadu- all her places of
tourist interest, her cultural wealth and economic progress.
Chennai Book Fair (December-January)
It is an annual book fair organised in Chennai, by the Booksellers and
Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI). The fair typically
lasts for about ten days during the New Year- Pongal season.
Karthigai Deepam (November)
The extension of Deepavali, Karthigai Deepam is celebrated on the
full moon day of the Karthigai month which coincides with Krithikai
star. On this day, people clean their houses and draw kolams or rangoli
in the front of their houses and also place some lamps on it.
Pongal (January)
Pongal is an important festival of Tamil Nadu and is celebrated to mark
the withdrawal of the Southeast monsoons as well as the reaping of the
harvest. A strictly rural festival and is celebrated for four days
starting January 13. Bhogi is the first day for family while Pongal is
second day for worshipping the Sun God. On the third day, Mattu Pongal,
cattle is worshipped and the Thiruvalluvar Day is celebrated in memory
of saint Thiruvalluvar.
