Introduction to Chettinad cuisineChettinad cuisine hails from the deep southern region of Tamil Nadu. Chettinad cuisine is far from the bland cuisine of traditional Tamilian Brahmins²it is one of the spiciest, oiliest and most aromatic in India. Although the Chettiars are well known for their delicious vegetarian preparations, their repertoire of food items is famous and includes all manner of fish and fowl and meats, as well as delicate noodle-like dishes and carefully preserved sun-dried legumes and berries that the Chettiar ladies make into curries. Oil and spices are liberally used in cooking and most dishes have generous amounts of peppercorn, cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom, nutmeg, green and red chilies, etc. Some of the popular dishes in Chettinad menu are varuval -- a dry dish fried with onions and spices (chicken, fish or vegetables sautéed), pepper chicken, poriyal -- a curry, and kuzambu which has the ingredients stewed in a gravy of coconut milk and spices. In the same range, one can include the numerous pickles, powders, specially roasted and ground spices, dry snacks, papads, appalam and vada. Numerous shops now sell pre-packed snacks like murukkus, small spirals of fried rice dough, chips and other edible µhand grenades¶ like thattai, masala vada and so on. The Tamil variation of Mughlai food can be savored in the biryani and paya. The latter is a kind of spiced trotter broth and is eaten with either parathas or appam. Tamil Nadu is famous for its filter coffee as most Tamils have a subtle contempt for instant coffee. The making of filter coffee is almost a ritual, for the coffee beans have to be roasted and ground. Then the powder is put into a filter set and boiling hot water is added to prepare the decoction and allowed to set for about 15 minutes. The mix is then added to milk with sugar to taste. The final drink is poured individually from one container to another in rapid succession to make the ideal frothy cup of filter coffee. South Indian cuisine has the following culinary schools Karnataka, Andhra, Hyderabadi, Tamil, Chettinad, Kerala. Andhra Andhra cuisine is largely vegetarian but the coastal areas have a large repertoire of seafood. Fish and prawns are curried in sesame and coconut oils, and flavored with freshly ground pepper. Andhra food is served with rice. Rice, sambar and other lentil preparations, and steamed vegetables delicately flavored with coconut, spices and fresh herbs. Snack or tiffin time is made of many preparations like onion pakodas; vadas or savory lentil doughnuts dunked in steaming hot sambar; and steamed rice muffin like dumplings called idlis. Savories are murku, roundels of rice flour paste deep fried; and appadams. Desserts include payasam, a pudding made with rice and milk and the popular Sheer Khurma - a Hyderabadi delicacy with dry fruits and dates. Vangi Bath.The famous Masala Dosa traces its origin to Udupi cuisine. fried dishes such as Aambode or Bonda is served next. Plain and Rave Idli or pancake. two or three desserts are served. Saaru. majjige huli or Kootu which is eaten with hot rice. Akki Rotti. Coorg district is famous for spicy varieties of pork curries while coastal Karnataka boasts of many tasty sea food specialities. Mysore Pak. Palya. Raita Dessert ( Yes. Mysore Masala Dosa and Maddur Vade are popular in South Karnataka. Khara Bath. it is a tradition to start your meal with a dessert( paaysa!) Thovve Chitranna Rice Ghee. Gojju. .Karnatak Cuisine A typical Kannad meal includes the following dishes in the order specified and is served on a banana leaf: Kosambari. Among sweets. Davanagere Benne Dosa. Chiroti are well known. and Uppittu. What follows next is a series of soup-like dishes such as saaru. Pheni. Dharwad Pedha. Some typical dishes include Bisibele Bath. Ragi mudde. Pickle. Gojju or raita is served next. The meal ends with a serving of curd rice. Kesari Bath. oiliest and most aromatic in India. The Hyderabadi cuisine is the amalgamation of Muslim techniques and meats with the vibrant spices and ingredients of the predominantly local Hindu people. their repertoire of food items is famous and includes all manner of fish and fowl and meats. the hot and the salty and studded with dry fruits and nuts. Hydrabadi cuisine is the ultimate in fine dining. One of India's finest foods. the biryani or rice with meats and brinjal (or eggplant) or baghare baiganis are the jewels of Hyderabadi cooking. Chettinad cuisine is far from the bland cuisine of traditional Tamilian Brahmins²it is one of the spiciest. Its tastes range from sour and the sweet. Chettinad cuisine Chettinad cuisine hails from the deep southern region of Tamil Nadu.Hyderabad This cuisine is a direct result from the kitchens of the Nizams or Muslim rulers. as well as delicate noodle-like dishes and carefully preserved sun-dried legumes and berries that the Chettiar ladies make into curries. Oil and spices are liberally used in cooking and most . Although the Chettiars are well known for their delicious vegetarian preparations. etc. In the same range. Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu is famous for its filter coffee as most Tamils have a subtle contempt for instant coffee.a dry dish fried with onions and spices (chicken. powders. for the coffee beans have to be roasted and ground. green and red chilies. poriyal -. masala vada and so on. and kuzambu which has the ingredients stewed in a gravy of coconut milk and spices. Then the powder is put into a .a curry. Some of the popular dishes in Chettinad menu are varuval -. pepper chicken. small spirals of fried rice dough. Numerous shops now sell pre-packed snacks like murukkus.dishes have generous amounts of peppercorn. The making of filter coffee is almost a ritual. cardamom. specially roasted and ground spices. dry snacks. appalam and vada. bay leaves. papads. The Tamil variation of Mughlai food can be savored in the biryani and paya. cinnamon. chips and other edible µhand grenades¶ like thattai. one can include the numerous pickles. nutmeg. fish or vegetables sautéed). The latter is a kind of spiced trotter broth and is eaten with either parathas or appam. For the Muslims. Kerala is noted for its variety of pancakes and steamed rice cakes made from pounded rice. For the Christians. . chicken. the lightly flavored Biryani-made of mutton.filter set and boiling hot water is added to prepare the decoction and allowed to set for about 15 minutes. Arrack is extremely intoxicating and is usually consumed with spicy pickles and boiled eggs (patta and mutta). who can be seen in large concentration in areas like Kottayam and Pala. In seafood. mussels are a favorite. Kerala also has it's own fermented beverages -the famous kallu (toddy) and patta charayam (arrack). The mix is then added to milk with sugar to taste. ishtew (a derivation of the European stew). egg or fish-takes pride of place. with appam is a must for every marriage reception. The final drink is poured individually from one container to another in rapid succession to make the ideal frothy cup of filter coffee. compared to the population share of about 6%. Kerala. the Anamalai Hills. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the States of Puducherry. It is bound by the Eastern Ghats in the north. Its official language Tamil has been in use in inscriptions and literature for over 2000 years.56%) of business enterprises and stands second in total employment (9. grand Hindu temples of Dravidian architecture. beach resorts. It is the fifth largest contributor to India's GDP and ranks tenth in Human Development Index as of 2006. the Gulf of Mannar. Tamil Nadu is the eleventh largest state in India by area (about the size of Greece) and the seventh most populous state.Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (Tamil: ) is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. The state has the highest number (10. by the Bay of Bengal in the east. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The region has been the home of the Tamil people since at least 500 BCE. Tamil Nadu is also the most urbanised state in India. . the Nilgiri. and by the Indian Ocean in the south. hill stations.97%) in India. multi-religious pilgrimage sites and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. the Palk Strait in the south east. and Palakkad on the west. Tamil Nadu is home to many natural resources. archaeologists from the Archaeological Survey of India unearthed 169 clay urns containing human skulls. 24 km (15 mi) from Tirunelveli. There have been more discoveries of the evidence of prehistoric creatures inhabiting the landscape of what is now modern Tamil Nadu in the shape of eggs of dinosaurs and other animals of their kind. Geologists in Tamil Nadu have stumbled upon a Jurassic treasure trove buried in the sands of a river bed. giving evidence confirming them to be of the Neolithic period. underneath a stream in a tiny village in Ariyalur district. Adichanallur has been announced as an archaeological site for further excavation and studies.History Pre historic Tamil Nadu's history dates back to pre-historic times. perhaps 65 million years old. Sheer luck led them to hundreds of fossilized dinosaur eggs. 3800 years ago. skeletons and bones. plus husks and grains of rice. Researchers from the . About 60% of the total epigraphical inscriptions found by ASI in India are from Tamil Nadu and most of which are in Tamil language. The ASI archaeologists have proposed that the script used at that site is "very rudimentary" Tamil Brahmi. Archaeological evidence points to this area being one of the longest continuous habitations in India. In Adichanallur. charred rice and Neolithic celts. Salem-based Periyar University found clusters of eggs of what they believe to be the most aggressive Carnosaur and the docile. with the ancient kingdoms of Egypt. Their decline saw the brief resurgence of the Pandyas. Salem Districts in present day Tamil Nadu and present day Kerala from the capital of Vanchi Muthur in the west. Karur. herbivores which grew to enormous heights and sizes Medieval Period (600±1300) The Cholas who were very active during the Sangam age were entirely absent during the first few centuries. in spices. Phoenicia. pearls and gems. ivory. Sauropods were longnecked. The Cholas went on to becoming a great power. invaded and displaced the three Tamil kingdoms and ruled between the third and the seventh centuries CE of the Sangam period.Mesopotamia and Persia. This period was also that of the re-invigorated Hinduism during which temple building and religious literature were at their best. Ceylon. This is referred to as the Dark Age .[17] The period started with the rivalry between the Pandyas and the Pallavas. They traded extensively from nearby Muziris. Greece. The Kalabhras. (thought to be modern Karur). The Cheras ruled in southern India from before the Sangam era (300 BCE ± 250 CE) over theCoimbatore. Arabia. which in turn caused the revival of the Cholas. leaf-eating Sauropod at Sendurai village. Rome. While Carnosaurs were large predatory dinosaurs. timber. too. renunciation. . Following in the tradition of Jainism. There is considerable evidence in the to land show of that the under Tamils. Satavahanas. It consists of moral sayings in the venpa meter. Tamil Nadu saw the rise of the Pallavas under Mahendravarman I and his son Mamalla Narasimhavarman I. They were expelled by the Pallavas and the Pandyas in sixth century. Narasimhavarman II built the Shore Temple which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pallavas ruled a large portion of South India withKanchipuram as their capital. 400 in number in 40 chapters. around 550 King Simhavishnuthey emerged into prominence. although this latter view is not undisputed. Because the Kalabhras gave protection to Jains and perhaps Buddhists. some have concluded that they were anti-Hindu. according to tradition. Dravidian architecture reached its peak during the Pallava rule. and other desirable social qualities. They subjugated the Cholas and reigned as far south as the Kaveri River. The Pallavas After were the originally fall of executive the officers under the Satavahana CE under Empire. asceticism. each by one Jain ascetic. the The Kalabhras' didactic rule Jainism flourished work Naaladiyar was composed during their reign. During the sixth to eighth centuries century CE.in Tamil history. Naaladiyar emphasizes virtues such as control of the senses. They had extensive trade links with the Southeast Asian maritime empires of Srivijaya and their successors. The Pandyas excelled in both trade and literature. Chola Empire By the 9th century. which produced some of the finest pearls in the known ancient world. Parantaka Chola II itself the Chola empire had expanded into what is now interior Andhra Pradesh and coastal Karnataka.Marco Polo mentioned the Pandyas as the richest empire in existence. as well as contacts. between Sri Lanka and India. The Pandyan capital Madurai was in the deep south away from the coast. At its peak. while under the great Rajaraja Chola and his son Rajendra Chola. The Chola Empire stretched as far as Bengal.The Pallavas were replaced by the Cholas as the dominant kingdom in the 10th century C.E. his son Parantaka I. even formal diplomatic contacts.E and they in turn were replaced by Pandyas in the 13th century C.E. Temples such as the Meenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai and Nellaiappar Temple at Tirunelveli are the best examples of Pandyan temple architecture. the . They controlled the pearl fisheries along the South Indian coast. reaching as far as the Roman Empire. the Cholas rose as a notable power in south Asia. During the 13th century C. during the times of the second Chola monarch Aditya I. occupying coasts from Burma (now Myanmar) to Vietnam. He defeated Mahipala.968 sq mi). Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola period is said to be the golden period of Tamil Nadu. and to commemorate his victory he built a new capital and named it Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Rajaraja Chola conquered all of peninsular South India and parts of the Sri Lanka. Brihadeshwara Temple in Thanjavur is a classical example of the magnificent architecture of the Chola kingdom. With the decline of the Cholas between 1230±1280 CE. Sumatra. Lakshadweep." Another example is Annamalaiyar Temple located at the city of Tiruvannamalai and the Chidambaram Temple in the heart of the temple town of Chidambaram. the king of the Bengal. .389. The Cholas excelled in building magnificent temples. Rajendra Chola's navies went even further. and under them the Chola empire rose to be the most powerful empire in all of South-India. the celebratedJatavarman Sundara Pandyan. Brihadshwara temple is an UNESCO Heritage Site under "Great Living Chola Temples.000 km (1. Java.600. the Pandyas rose to prominence once again.empire spanned almost 3. under Maravarman Sundara Pandya and his younger brother. Malaya in South East Asia and Pegu islands. the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This revival was short-lived as the Pandya capital of Madurai itself was sacked by Alauddin Khilji's troops under General Malik Kafur in 1316. . many incompetent kings succeeded to the throne of Vijayanagara with the result that its grip loosened over its feudatories among whom the Nayaks of Madurai and Tanjore were among the first to declare their independence. 1370 CE). despite initially maintaining loose links with the Vijayanagara kingdom. The Nayaks of Madurai and Nayaks of Thanjavur were most prominent of them all in the 17th century. It eventually conquered the entire Tamil country (c." As the Vijayanagara Empire went into decline after mid16th century. Vijayanagar and Nayak period (1336±1646) These Muslim invasions triggered the establishment of the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire in the Deccan. who were appointed by the Vijayanagar kingdom to administer various territories of the empire. the Nayak governors. This empire lasted for almost two centuries till the defeat of Vijayanagara in the Battle of Talikota in 1565. Subsequent to this defeat. They reconstructed some of the oldest temples in the country such as the Meenakshi Temple. The Muslim invasion led to the establishment of the short lived Madurai Sultanate. declared their independence. In the late 18th century. Chanda Sahib was supported by the French by the middle of the 18th century. the British.Rule of Nawabs and Nizams (1692-1801) In the early 18th century. the eastern parts of Tamil Nadu came under the dominions of the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of the Carnatic. Nizams of Hyderabad and the Nawabs of the Carnatic bestowed tax revenue collection rights on the East India Company for defeating the Kingdom of Mysore. established a settlement further south of Pulicat. the East India Company consolidated most of southern India into the Madras . came under the dominions of Hyder Ali and later Tipu Sultan. the western parts of Tamil Nadu. while the Danish had their establishment in Tranquebar (Tharangambadi). in present day Chennai. In 1639. encompassing Kongu Nadu. In the late 18th century. the Dutch established a settlement in Pulicat. After winning the Polygar wars. particularly with their victory in the Second AngloMysore War. the British fought and reduced the French dominions in India to Puducherry. While Wallajah was supported by the English. under the British East India Company. Tamil Nadu under European rule (1801±1947) Around 1609. Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu. At this point is the town of Kanyakumari which is the meeting point of the Arabian Sea.Karnataka to the northwest and Andhra Pradesh to the north. Pudukkottai remained as a princely state.Presidency coterminous with the dominions of Nizam of Hyderabad. the Bay of Bengal.058 square kilometres (50. and parts of Kerala. The state was subsequently split up along linguistic lines. Madras Presidency became Madras State. The bordering states are Kerala to the west. coastal Andhra Pradesh up to Ganjam district in Orissa. Tamil Nadu in independent India When India became independent in 1947. To the east is the Bay of Bengal and the union territory of Puducherry. In 1969. and is the eleventh largest state in India.216 sq mi). meaning Country of Tamil. Geography Tamil Nadu covers an area of 130. . and the Indian Ocean. South Canara district Karnataka. comprising present day Tamil Nadu. The southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula is located in Tamil Nadu. [31] Tamil Nadu falls mostly in a region of low seismic hazard with the exception of the western border areas that lie in a low to moderate hazard zone. Tamil Nadu falls in Zones II & III.The western. The Western Ghats dominate the entire western border with Kerala.793 direct deaths in the state. Tamil Nadu is the only state in India which has both the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats and they both meet at the Nilgiri hills. effectively blocking much of the rain bearing clouds of the South West Monsoon from entering the state. Historically. Tamil Nadu has a coastline of about 910 kilometres (600 mi) which is the country¶s third longest coastline. as per the 2002 Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) map.0 range. . Tamil Nadu's coastline bore the brunt of the 2004Indian Ocean Tsunami when it hit India. which caused 7. parts of this region have experienced seismic activity in the M5. The eastern parts are fertile coastal plains and the northern parts are a mix of hills and plains. southern and the north-western parts are hilly and rich in vegetation. The central and the south central regions are arid plains and receive less rainfall than the other regions. with strong southwest winds. The table below shows the maximum and minimum temperatures that the state experiences in the plains and hills. with dominant northeast winds. high rainfall. The normal annual rainfall of the state is about 945 mm (37. The state has three distinct periods of rainfall: advancing monsoon period. dry season from January to May. north-west. South West monsoon from June to September. and Cauvery Delta (the most fertile agricultural zone). Since the state is entirely dependent on rains for recharging its water resources. .2 in) of which 48% is through the North East monsoon. North East monsoon from October to December. The climate of the state ranges from dry subhumid to semi-arid. monsoon failures lead to acute water scarcity and severe drought.Climate Tamil Nadu is heavily dependent on monsoon rains. and thereby is prone to droughts when the monsoons fail. west. southern. high altitude hilly. Tamil Nadu is classified into seven agro-climatic zones: north-east. and 32% through the South West monsoon. when it was replaced with a unicameral legislature. Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is the state capital. It is the fourth largest city in India and is also one of the five A1 Metropolitan cities of India. . like most other states in India. The term length of the government is 5 years. Tamil Nadu legislative assembly is chaired by the speaker Mr.Governance and administration The Governor is the Constitutional head of the state while the Chief Minister is the head of the government and the head of the council of ministers. Tamil Nadu had a bicameral legislature until 1986. The present government run by the DMK led alliance came to power in 2006 and comprises a council of 29 ministers. 611 town panchayats and 12. Chief Minister and the Chief Justice are Surjit Singh Barnala. Iqbal respectively.Karunanidhi. M.M. Karunanidhi and M. The Chief Justice of the Madras High Court is the head of the judiciary. The state had come under the President's rule on four occasions ± first from 1976 to 1977. then from 1988 to 1989 and the latest in 1991. 234 Assembly constituencies. 152 municipalities. 32 districts. next for a short period in 1980. Y. as is elsewhere in India. chaired by the Chief Minister. 10 city corporations. Dr.The major administrative units of the state constitutes 39 Lok Sabha constituencies. R Avudaiappan and is housed at the Omandurar Government Estate in Chennai. The present Governor.618 village panchayats. Tamil Nadu has 10 City Corporations: Chennai. TheCorporation of Chennai. A large part of the government records like land ownership records are digitised and all major offices of the state government like Urban Local Bodies ² all the Corporations and Municipal Office activities ² revenue collection. the state had a total police population ratio of 1:668.Tirupur. is the oldest Municipal Corporation not only in India but also in any commonwealth nations outside United Kingdom. land registration offices. E rode. Tamil Nadu has been a pioneering state of E-Governance initiatives in India. There is a plan to upgrade Nagercoil and Thanjavur as City Corporations. Vellore and Thoothukudi. higher than the national average of 1:717. . It is the fifth largest state police force in India and has the largest strength of women police personnel in the country. The Tamil Nadu Police Force is over 140 years old. Coimbatore. Madurai. and transport offices have been computerised. As of 2003. established in 1688. Tirunelveli. Tiruchirapalli. The current Director General of Police (law and order) of Tamil Nadu is Latika Charan. Salem. Tamil Nadu is one of the states where law and order has been maintained largely successfully. Nilgiris District 17. Erode District 8. Kanchipuram District 9. Tiruvarur District 30. Tiruvallur District 28. Thoothukudi District 24. Tirupur district 27. Tiruchirapalli District 25. Vellore District 31. Cuddalore District 5. Tiruvannamalai District 29. Kanyakumari District 10. Theni District 23. Coimbatore District 4. Krishnagiri District 12. Pudukkottai District 18. Sivagangai District 21. Dharmapuri District 6. Viluppuram District . Thanjavur District 22. Chennai District 3. Nagapattinam District 14. Karur District 11. Ariyalur District 2. Salem District 20. Ramanathapuram District 19. Madurai District 13. Dindigul District 7. Namakkal District 15.Districts The 32 districts of Tamil Nadu are listed below with the numbers corresponding to those in the image at right. 1. Tirunelveli District 26. Perambalur District 32. and Tamil architecture were developed and continue to be practised in Tamil Nadu. Unique cultural features like Bharatanatyam (dance). Tamil Nadu is known for its rich tradition of literature. Temples of Tamil Nadu. Tanjore painting. Language and literature . and Tamil literature Tamil Nadu has a long tradition of venerable culture.16. Virudhunagar District Culture Main articles: Tamil people. music and dance which continue to flourish today. . Throughout its history. He is often portrayed as a holy saint of Tamil Nadu today. The Tamil people regard their language a very important part of their cultural identity. notably Subramanya Bharathy and Bharathidasan.Tamil is the only official language of Tamil Nadu. does not mention his religion. During the Indian freedom struggle. Tamil poetry has universal appeal as evidenced by many examples. with prose not becoming more common until later periods. Even today. land. The first Tamil printing press was established at Tarangambadi by the Danish missionaries. When India adopted national standards Tamil was the very first language to be recognized as a classical language of India. social equity and secularist thoughts among the common man.and Indira Parthasarathy. Ancient Tamil literature is predominantly secular and deals with everyday life in the Tamil Context. Jayakanthan. Tamil Nadu is home to creative writers like Vairamuthu. Tiruvalluvar. educate and entertain. which was written nearly two millennia ago portrays a universal outlook. Tirukkural. Most early Tamil literary works are in verse form. This is evident as the author. many Tamil poets and writers sought to provoke national spirit. Tamil literature has sought to inform and inspire. or the audience for his work. English is also in common usage as an official language of India. St.Sivan. Christians and Muslims together form over 11% of the population. Several important Hindu Tamil figures became important figures for Hinduism as a whole (e. Thomas Mount in Chennai. supposedly built atop the tomb of St.Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita. Sakthi in various forms and a large number of village deities are also worshiped by Hindus in Tamil Nadu. Murugan. and the Vailankanni Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health ² revered .Ramanuja. Christians are mainly concentrated in the southern districts of Kanyakumari (44% of the population.2001).) In modern times. Thirumal (Vishnu). Thomas. These include Advaita Vaishnavism. is an important pilgrimage site for Indian Christians. 2001). Thoothukudi (17%. Thomas. The Santhome Basilica. one of the disciples of Jesus. well known figures for Hinduism in the state include Ramana Maharishi and the Kanchi Paramacharya. The emblem of Government of Tamil Nadu depicts the Gopuram (Entrance Arch) of the temple at Srivilliputhur. the place where St.Religions About 88% of the population identifies as Hindu and Tamil Nadu is the home of the core schools of medieval and modern Hinduism as well as several nonmainstream Hindu movements.g. Alvars' Sri and Nayanmars Shaivism. 2001) and Tirunelveli (11%. was believed to have been martyred. Vedanta. The Church of South India and the Pentecostal Mission Church are headquartered in Chennai. There was a popular atheist movement in the 1940s that has lost support since. Pernambut. with the state capital Chennai also home to a number of Muslims. Festivals Pongal.Erwadi in Ramanathapuram district and Nagore in Nagapattinam district are important pilgrimage site for Muslims. Madurai and Karpudaiyar masjid in Kayalpatnam are the oldest mosques in Tamil Nadu. Kayalpatnam. Vaniyambadi. Kilakarai. Ambur. while the Thousand Lights Mosque in Chennai is one of the largest mosques in the country. and Melapalayam. a four-day harvest festival is one of the most widely celebrated . Kazimar Big Mosque in Kazimar Street.churches by India's Roman Catholics ² are good examples of majestic church architectures in Tamil Nadu. The Sunnis adhere to either Hanafi or Shafi schools of thought. Madurai. Muslims are mainly concentrated in areas such as Adirampattinam. Nagore. Among Muslims. 97. also called as Tamizhar Thirunaal (festival of Tamils) or Makara Sankranti elsewhere in India.5% are Sunni and the rest are Shias. Thiruvalluvar Calendar is 31 years ahead of Gregorian Calendar. the mother goddess of rain. Most of these festivals are related to the goddess Maariyamman. The Tamil language saying Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum ² literally meaning. is the main day which falls on the first day of the tenth Tamil month Thai (14 January or 15 January in western calendar). Kaanum Pongal ² the word "kaanum". means 'to view' in Tamil. . The first day. is meant to offer thanks to the cattle. Maattu Pongal. which celebrates the rising of the water level in the river Cauvery. marks the main event of this day. The third day. Jallikattu. in every village and town of Tamil Nadu. that is 2000 CE in Gregorian calendar is represented as 2031 in Thiruvalluvar Calendar. as they provide milk and are used to plough the lands. the birth of the month of Thai will pave way for new opportunities ² is often quoted with reference to this festival. is celebrated by throwing away and destroying old clothes and materials by setting them on fire to mark the end of the old and emergence of the new. The second day.festivals throughout Tamil Nadu. Aadi Perukku is celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi. Bhogi Pongal. During this final day. Surya Pongal. The first month in the Tamil calendar is Chitterai and the first day of this month in mid-April is celebrated as Tamil New Year. a bull taming contest. Apart from these major festivals. the inhabitants celebrate festivals for the local gods once a year and the time varies from place to place. Music and Drama). ballads that convey folklore and folk history. Easter andBakrid are celebrated by Christians and Muslims in the state. Music The Kings of ancient Thamizhagam created sangams for Iyal Isai Nadagam (Literature. Christmas. Eid ul-Fitr. is celebrated predominantly in the southern districts. Music played a major role in sangams. Popular forms of Tamil folk music include the Villupp music performed with a bow. Ayudha Poojai. ladies who work in the fields used to sing kulavai songs. Saraswathi Poojai (Dasara). Music in Tamil Nadu had different forms. Odhuvars.Additional major Hindu festivals including Deepavali (Death of Narakasura). Some of the leading Tamil folk artists in the early 21st . Ayya Vaikunda Avataram. In sharp contrast with the restrained and intellectual nature of Carnatic music. Tamil folk music tends to be much more exuberant. In villages where farming was the primary occupation. In addition. Sthanikars or Kattalaiyars offer short musical programmes in the temples by singing the devotional Thevaram songs. Krishna Jayanthi and Vinayaka Chathurthi are celebrated. and the N uppur app u. a form of u. The Trinity of Carnatic musicTyagaraja. Dr. His work highlighted Tamil folk lyricism and introduced broader Western musical sensibilities to the South Indian musical mainstream. Thyagarajar Aaradhanai (worship) takes place every year in the month of Marghazhi in Thiruvaiyaru all carnatic musicians render their obesiance to Saint Thyagarajar by singing his compositions.century are Pushpuvanam Kuppuswamy. Paravai muniammal etc. Rahman who has composed film music in Tamil. namely Muthu Thandavar (?1560 ± ?1640 CE). Chennai hosts a large cultural event. Tamil Nadu has hundreds of notable carnatic singers and instrumentalists who spread this music all over the world. The composers belonging to the Tamil Trinity. Ilaiyaraaja was the most prominent composer of film music in Tamil cinema during the late 1970s and 1980s. Carnatic music is the classical music form of Southern India. Hindi .R. the annual Madras Music Season during December±January. This is one of the world's oldest & richest musical traditions. Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri were from Tamil Nadu. Arunachala Kavi (1712± 1779) and Marimutthu Pillai (1717±1787) composed hundreds of devotional songs in Tamil and helped in the evolution of Carnatic music. which includes performances by hundreds of artists all over the city.Telugu. Today. Chinnaponnu. Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan. Tamil Nadu is also the home of the double Oscar Winner A. In terms of modern cine-music. Other Tamil folk dances include mayil am. to celebrate the arrival of seasons. poikkal kuthiraiyaa am. Tamil dance is closely intertwined with the Tamil theatrical tradition. decorated with flowers and surrounded by a bamboo frame. These are performed for every possible occasion. where the dancers tie a string of peacock feathers around their waist.films. birth of a child. The most celebrated of these is karakattam. the dance is performed in front of an image of the goddess Mariamman. weddings and festivals. The dancer bears on his or her head a brass pot filled with uncooked rice. where the dancers use dummy horses. In its religious form. was once referred to by Time magazine as "The Mozart of Madras". where the dancers imitate the graceful leaping of deer. and am. a folk song in the mode of a lover speaking to his beloved. to the accompaniment of a nadaswaram and melam. a dance involving playing with burning wooden torches. manattam. a dance to the sound of rhythmical drumbeats. yil ttam. Karakattam is usually performed to a special type of song known as temmangupp u or thevar p u. paraiy th ppand am. English and Chinese films. danced in a circle while waving small pieces of cloth of various colours. . Arts and dance Tamils have a large number of folk dances. and tumbles and leaps to the rhythm of a song without spilling a grain. a Hindu sage. Film industry Tamil Nadu is also home to the Tamil film industry (sometimes called as Kollywood). Bharatanatyam is a traditional dance-form known for its grace. Cuisine .Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu. Bharatanatyam is thought to have been created by Bharata Muni. it as also been called sadir or chinna melam. in India. It is based at Kodambakkam in Chennai. the most important ancient treatise on classical Indian dance. It continues to be a popular dance style at present times and is practised by male and female dancers all over India. tenderness. Many of the ancient sculptures in Hindu temples are based on Bharata Natyam dance postures. In this form. who wrote the Natya Shastra. In ancient times it was performed in Hindu temples byDevadasis. purity. and sculpturesque poses. It is known for being the second largest film industry in terms of revenue and worldwide distribution. Terukkuttu or Kattaikkuttu is a traditional form of Tamilstreet theatre folk dance/drama. accompanied vegetarian and/or non-vegetarian dishes like Kootu. while Ambur. food is served on a banana leaf instead of a plate and eaten with the right hand. Traditionally. Puttu(Pittu). Chakkarai Pongal (prepared during Pongal) and Kuli Paniyaram. Chinese and fast food culture are also witnessing a steady growth in Tamil Nadu. Western. In the recent past. This vegetarian is or non-vegetarian with various Kulambu. The Chettinad region is famous for its spicy non-vegetarian cuisine. Tirunelveli varieties etc. Breakfast and snack items include Dosai. Madurai. Vadai. Varuval. North Indian. Adai. These items are eaten along with Sambar. Rice is the staple food of Tamils and is typically eaten mixed with Sambhar (with or without Ghee). Appam(Aappam). varieties of Chatniand Podi .Rasam. Idly. Peratal. Uppumavu(Uppuma). where Rice and rice-derived dishes form the major portion of a diet (see Rice and curry). Tirunelveli is known for its unique wheat Halwa and Palani is renowned for its Panchamirtham. Sweet items that are native to Tamil Nadu and prepared at homes are Athirasam. Poriyal. Kothsu. Pongal. varieties of Pickles and Chicken / Mutton / Fish fry. Kongunadu. Dindigal and Sankarankoil are known for their Biriyani. There are regional subvarieties namely Chettinadu. Traditionally prepared Filter Coffee is unique in taste and popular all over the state. Curd and Buttermilk. . Idiyappam and Uthappam.Tamil cuisine is basically South Indian cuisine. Aviyal. Santhakai(Noodles). Paniyaram. Appalam. who live in the USA.Singapore. which includes Karaikudi and 74 (traditionally its said as 96) other villages. particularly Ceylon andBurma. Malaysia. Karaikudi is known as the capital of ChettinaD. Today there is a diaspora of Chettinad people. Chettinad is well known for its Chettinad cuisine. Chettinad is the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiars (Nagarathar). among other places. .Chettinad Chettinad (Tamil: ) is a region of the Sivaganga district of southern Tamil Nadu state. Mansions. and Temples. India. many of whose members migrated to South and Southeast Asia. The people of Chettinad speak Tamil. in the 19th and early 20th centuries. a prosperous banking and business community. "Kara kolambu" is a highly regarded south Indian sambar. spacious rooms. wide courtyards. Local legend has it that their walls used to be polished with a paste made out of eggwhites to give a smooth texture. its a mouth watering delicacy for the sweet toothed ones. drumstick sambar. and is well known for its houses. now is one of the many reasons why people get to know Chettinad. Chettinad delicacy:Aadi kummayam. Temples Originally built by early Tamil dynasties like the Cholas. Chettinad food. embellished with marble and Burma teak. ghee for flavouring rice. Mansions Chettinad is rich in cultural heritage. and sweet meats like payasam and paal paniyaram. the temples of Chettinad stand testimony to the spiritual beliefs of its denizens. Chettinad food is essentially spicy. made from pulses.Chettinad Cuisine Chettinad is known for its Culinary delicacies. art and architecture. and for its 18th century mansions. Scattered over the whole . with a standard full meal consisting of cooked dhal. eggplant (brinjal) curry. a CSIR laboratory specialising in electrochemical research. worn rather differently from the regular sari. The thickness of this sari and changing demands have kept this sari out of production for nearly a hundred years. kanadukaathan (chettinad station) and kallal Karaikudi is also known for CECRI. Its vibrance and its weight are its distinguishing factors. Kandanur Sivan Temple. . The largest town in the area is Karaikudi. Trains that run from Chennai to Rameshwaram stop at Karaikudi. corrosion prevention. The nearest airport is Madurai airport. The Chettinad Sari: This cotton sari is unique in the dramatic and spontaneous use of colour and pattern with bold checks. Records and old photographs show the use of this sari by previous generations. a few are Vairavan Kovil temple. and used for holy rituals. Karpaga Vinayakar temple. The lab has been operational for more than forty years. and has produced patents and inventions in the areas of battery research. and paints among others. Kundrakudi Murugan temple. before the advent of blouses and underskirts.place. each temple has its own tank called oorani where water lilies are grown. Even today much of Chettinad's daily tidings are centered around the festivities around the temple. 85 kilometers away. Among the many famous temples. stripes and contrasting hues. Kottaiyur Sivantemple. your eye travels in a straight line across a series of inner courtyards. The platforms lead off on one side into store rooms and massive granaries and on the other.Large raised platforms on either side of the central corridor.Chettinad House The Chettinad houses are built on a rectangular traversal plot that stretches across two streets. . Looking in from the main threshold.Karaikudi . while the fourth. where the host would entertain male guests. The wealthier the merchants the larger the house. each meant for a married son. each with a triangular slot cut into the wall for the evening lamp. with image of Lakshmi carved over the head and navaratna or nine precious gems buried under the (Vasapadi) threshold. each a diminishing rectangle of light.This area also usually leads off to the men's well. First comes an outer thinai . leading out to the backyard with its women's well and grinding stones. with the front door opening into the first street and the back into the second. The door leads into the first open air courtyard. leading out to the back door. the huge elaborately carved teak front door. into the (Kanakupillai ) or Accountant's room. The third courtyard was for the women folk to rest and gossip. Then comes the second counrtyard with large dining spaces on either side. or nalankattai comprised the kitchens. with pillared corridors running on each side that lead into individual rooms. often spreading out to a second floor. From here. with superb divans. The chettiar's main intent was to make his house a statement of his social success and he put everything into it. recliners bidets and washbasins. for lesser personages and family guests. many houses have small turrets and elaborate guard houses on the terrace. but the pastiche of styles . yolk and lime that leaves them silken smooth and washable. The display of wealth extended to other areas.colours. Victorian women. The outside are not always so lucky . all in various stages of disrepair. domes and arches often clash painfully but the message of splendour is not lost.class coach would halt. where he went directly without having to mix with the rabble at the station. plastered over by a secret recipe of roots. The carvings and friezes are not just Hindu pantheon but include British soldiers. and scenes from the Raj. the tiles are Spanish. neo-classical. At the chettinad railway station.Kerala Woodwork. curves. There are three smaller such buildings around.The walls are of baked bricks. a paved path leads through an arched gate to his private waiting room. The waiting room and attached toilets are still furnished. . the floors of Italian marble or locally .is Strangely not Vulgar. exactly opposite where the Raja of chettinad's first . and the pillars of Burmese teak.crafted Athangudi tiles. Anglo-Indian . Victorian. The airy courtyards seem somehow to absorb and mute everything down inside. Already an immense portion of the chettiar families belongings .. But it's unlikely they will stay that way.The practical detail inside the houses are rich: the courtyards supply ample light and air (pickles and papads were dried there ) but leaving the rest of the house in deep and cool shadow. Muthiah family has opened up some rooms in its vast family mansion to tourists for a home-living experience.. pillars and friezes in high demand in India and abroad. . feet crunching on years of bat droppings that cover exquisite floor tiles.A. The Meyyappans have converted the family clubhouse into The bangala.pewter. brass porcelain. preserving its past graciously while the S. with carved doors.is in the local antique shops and being shipped across the world. Some Chettiars have stepped in to start the process of conservation. has opened his house in Kanadukathan for public viewing. with stone stoppers carved exactly for their mouths. it's easy to imagine these houses asleep in some sort of time capsule. glass Burmese bamboo . the Raja of Chettinad. Houses are being dismantled and sold piece-meal. Walking through ghostly corridors looming with huge portraits and Belgian mirrors.. Large stone vats for water and wooden bins for firewood line the inner courtyards. The courtyards have tiles placed exactly under the stromwater drain run right through the house.R. Muthiah Chettiar. Kitchen tools and furniture. we find many rooms tightly locked. with the individual owners' names carved on door sills. Some families do return occasionally. but the occasions become fewer with time. converting the bungalows into bed-and breakfast outlets.while his brother's house next door has a floor converted to a museum that displays everything associated with the Chettiars . coconut scrapers and travelling spice boxes. for weddings and big days.masala dabbas and Rukmini ( choppers). revitalising the lost art of Chettinad plastering. We can only wait with trepidation to see the outcome of these plans. The caretakers tell me the rooms are still full of vessels. The Tamil Nadu government is making noises about converting this into a tourist zone. . Walking though the mansions. artefacts. waiting for their owners to claim them.