CHENNAI: Chennai city is having another birthday bash, and it is bigger than before.

Madras Day celebrations, started as a citizens' initiative two years ago, will be observed through a series of events next week. It will coincide with the anniversary of the official transaction of a sliver of land, where Fort St. George stands today, between the East India Company and the local Nayak rulers on August 22, 1639.

At a press meet on Friday to announce the commemoration, writer and historian S. Muthiah and publisher Vincent D'Souza said the primary motive of celebrating `Madras Day' was to focus on the city, its past and its present. So far, different organisations and corporate sponsors have come forward to celebrate 30 different events between August 20 and 27 as part of the celebrations.

Competitions announced so far include: lyrics competition by Unwind Centre (email: rob @unwindcenter.com); video short documentaries competition (submit in DVD format to Mylapore Times, 77, C.P. Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet); heritage project for schools by Intach (contact 98408 92939); T-shirt design contest (submit as a jpeg file to madrasday@yahoo.com); mobile phone camera contest by Univercell (submit photos to contest@univercell.in); Madras Quiz for students of Tamil medium and English medium on August 26 and 27 respectively (registration at P.S. High School in Mylapore); and a photography contest on `Marina moods' (submit to Mylapore Times before August 22).

Madras Day organisers have also put together several events. For further details, log on to www.themadrasday.in.

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