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First Chennai Sangamam folk arts festival

· Chennai

First Chennai Sangamam folk arts festival
Joelsuganth, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Chennai Sangamam, an open-air festival of Tamil folk and traditional arts around Pongal, was held for the first time with state government backing.

Chennai Sangamam was conceived in September 2006 by Kanimozhi and Jegath Gaspar Raj of the Tamil Maiyam. It was first held around the Pongal festival in 2007, organised with the Tamil Nadu Department of Tourism and Culture. Performances of folk music and dance, martial arts, classical arts and street theatre are staged in parks, beaches and other public spaces across the city. A food component featuring traditional Tamil cuisine was added in the second edition in 2008.

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