Cultural festivals in Chennai serve as a platform to the musicians and artists to showcase their talents. The festivals are prestigious as they are conducted both by the Tamil Nadu and the Indian government. The Natyanjali dance festival and the Mamallapuram dance festival are the notable ones.
Music and dance are an important part of Chennai life. The cultural festivals in Chennai are a platform where musicians and artists come and showcase their talent. The Natyanjali dance festival and the Mamallapuram dance festival are the notable ones.
Natyanjali Dance Festival
The Natyanjali dance festival is one of the popular events celebrated in Chennai. The festival serves as a platform to the budding dancers to perform in the auspicious Chidambaram temple. This dance festival is held in the Chidambaram city, which is located at a distance of 245 kilometers from the Chennai city. The vibrant dance festival takes place in the temple premises. The ancient famous Chidambaram temple houses a bronze statue of Nataraja and the carved paintings of the temple are a treat to the eye. The roof of the temple is coated with gold, which is another characteristic of the temple.
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The Natyanjali dance festival is held every year in between the months February- March. The dance festival is organized to pay tribute to Nataraja or Lord Shiva, who is regarded as the Lord of Dance according to the Hindu mythology. The festival begins on the day of Mahasivaratri and continues for the next five days. Dancers from all parts of India participate in this auspicious dance festival to pay their tribute to Nataraja.
Mamallapuram Dance Festival
Mamallapuram is located 58 kilometers from Chennai. The city is also among the frequented tourist destinations in South India. The city's rock sculptures, temples featuring the Pallava carvings and warm sandy beaches attract people from all over the world. The festival is held every year in the early week of January and continues for the consecutive four weeks. Mamallapuram dance festival is held in the open air with the Pallava rock carvings serving as wonderful background. Visitors to this dance festival not only gets a taste of the different types of classical dances like Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi and Kathakali but also the various folk dances prevalent in India.
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