Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is celebrating its 379th birth anniversary as Madras Day kicked off on August 22. The week-long celebrations, which began 15 years ago to commemorate the founding of the city on August 22, 1639, have now evolved into a month-long event. This year's festivities will be held throughout August and into the first week of September. The primary objective of these celebrations is to focus on the city's rich history, past, and present.
The Madras Week celebrations will feature a range of cultural and technological events aimed at sensitizing the public about the historic city. Heritage walks to architectural wonders, food festivals, film screenings, and public performances are some of the events planned. S Mutthiah, a renowned historian and one of the people responsible for creating Madras Day, had stated that the main motive was to focus on the city, its past, and present. Chennai is home to beautiful imperial architecture, intricately designed temples, and famous beaches.
The celebrations will include various events, such as art and photographic exhibitions, food festivals with Madras cuisine as the theme, and heritage walks. Several organizations, including the Madras Naturalists' Society, the photography group Nizhal, Observer Research Foundation, and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) Chennai Chapter, will participate in the events. A college student who attended last year's celebrations said that it helped them become aware of the city's rich heritage and history.
The Intach Chennai Chapter has organized a range of programs for this year's Madras Day Celebrations, which began in late July and will continue until early September. The events include a heritage club inauguration at Anjuman Tarana girls' school, a talk on the heritage rice trail, and the Chennai round of the India Heritage Quiz 2018. Other events include a walk of the Madras High Court, a session on environment and waste management, and a talk on paper jewels.
On August 19, a Madras High Court walk will be led by Mr. N. L. Rajah, covering the grounds, buildings, and museum of the High Court. The event is free of charge. On August 27, a session on environment and waste management will be held for school children. On August 30, a talk on "Paper Jewels – Postcards from the Raj" will cover a 500-vintage postcard tour of India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The Press Institute of India has also organized several events, including a presentation on the graceful arch bridges of Madras on August 20. Other events include a presentation on Agni Vasantham, a lec-dem on the 2000-year-old Sangam Age through Bharathanatyam, and a lec-dem on Gujili Ilakkiyam. These events aim to create awareness about the city's heritage and culture.
The Madras Week celebrations will conclude with a training workshop for school teachers on heritage, aimed at creating awareness among children. Other events include a walk of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, a walk of the Marina, and a book reprint release on Madras' architectural heritage. The celebrations aim to promote the city's rich history and culture, and to encourage people to appreciate and preserve its heritage.
Key points
- Chennai celebrates its 379th birth anniversary as Madras Day.
- The week-long celebrations feature cultural and technological events.
- Various organizations participate in the events to promote the city's heritage.
