Chennai Events

Chennai, being a metropolitan city, encourages large scale excitement for the large scale events that are held here, such as the numerous festival and fair celebrations. The roots of these festivities are seeded in the immense cultural heritage, which both educates and awes tourists. The Dance and Music Festival attracts a lot of attention. Held from December to mid January, the festival represents celebration of both classic and modern introduction to music and dance performances. Closely following this is the related Natyanjali Dance Festival, a more religious approach to appreciating creative dance. It is held during February and March, in dedication to Lord Shiva, who is considered the Cosmic Dancer. The very new age Travel and Tourism Fair is a great way to take in your surroundings, interact with locals and learn a lot about the culture. This day is heavily filled with shopping at the numerous stalls and enjoying the fair’s activities and food. Quite opposite of the Travel and Tourism Fair is one of Chennai’s biggest and most traditional, old-fashioned events, the Pongal Pongal. With great history entwined in its existence, Pongal Pongal is celebrated with much enthusiasm, marking the end of the monsoon and harvest season. It begins at dawn, where families, friends and neighbors across the city gather around a pot filled with milk. As the milk boils over–as a sign of “prosperity”–the cries of “Pongolo Pongal" fill the air, and the streets fill with people, candy and gifts.