Chennai In India And Its Music And Dance Festival
In mid-December, the city of Chennai hosts one of the most important dance and music festivals in India. Little by little, this festival has been gaining followers from all over the world who enjoy during the 30 days that the event of great performances lasts. In addition, we can find interpreters of the different languages of South India, such as Tamil.
Organized to protect the classical arts of South India, many schools and artists take part in this festival. In this small article we want to get you a little closer to the Chennai Music and Dance Festival in India, from the beginning of it to the details you need to know to enjoy your stay.
The beginnings of the festival
Also known as the Margazhi Dance and Music Festival, it was created to promote Indian classical music and dances in 1927. The initial objective of its celebration was to commemorate the anniversary of the Madras Academy of Music. Over time, several organizations decided to join the festival in order to unify and maintain the arts of music and dance in the city.
The Chennai Music and Dance Festival is held annually between mid-December and mid-January. During that month, events related to the music and dance of South India are organized with the participation of artists from all over the country. These dates coincide with those fixed as the Tamil month of Margazhi, considered a sacred month.
Chennai Festival performances
The entire city of Chennai comes to life even more during the festival celebration. This great show attracts more than 2000 participants, mostly from the city and other nearby cities. In fact, there are many artists who, still living abroad, return to their hometown to participate in the festival.
Among the more than 300 shows that take place at the festival, there is a very varied menu, both for lovers of classical arts and for those looking for new trends. The performances range from vocal and instrumental music to individual and collective dance. Consecrated artists who share the limelight with promising youngsters participate in them.
In the concert category you can enjoy music performed in various languages of South India. These vocal performances are accompanied by traditional musical instruments. Among them are stringed instruments such as the veena and the goottuvadyam and percussion instruments such as the thavil and mridangam.
Although the main objective of the creation of the festival is to keep alive the classical arts of dance and music typical of South India, more current shows can also be found. And it is that every year the number of participants and visitors who come to this event for lovers of the performing arts is exceeded.
Important information for your stay in Chennai
The city of Chennai has a mild and pleasant climate almost all year round. Thanks to its location on the coast, it does not have low temperatures during the month of December. This allows us to visit it and enjoy our stay.
Fitted for international tourism, the city has multiple options when it comes to staying. From luxury hotels to other cheaper accommodations welcome the arrival of tourists. In fact, the city of Chennai is known for its hospitality and for being one of the capitals of India most modernized and adapted to the new times.
It will not be difficult for us to get to the city either. Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu and is perfectly communicated both by train and by plane or road. In addition, during the event buses for tourists and musicians are launched from all parts of the city, coinciding with the calendar of performances of the month.
To better understand the performances during the festival, it is best to visit the city’s museums of popular customs and some of the traditional dance schools that are open to the public.
