CONFLUENCE: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi addressing the gathering at `Chennai Sangamam', a music, dance and drama festival, in Chennai on Tuesday. N. Suresh Rajan, Tourism Minister, and poet Kanimozhi, co-ordinator, Chennai Sangamam, are in the pic ture. — Photo:S. R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday called for concerted efforts to promote Tamil arts, literature and culture. As Chennai Sangamam, a cultural festival aimed at highlighting Chennai's cultural ethos, got off to a spectacular start, Mr. Karunanidhi said more such initiatives should come from the people. He was happy to note that these efforts would emerge as a people's movement.

Chennai Sangamam is being organised by Tamil Maiyam, the Department of Tourism and the Department of Tamil Culture, he pointed out. Referring to the performance by 200 artists at a music and dance show, `Sange Muzhangu,' held at the open-air theatre of the Indian Institute of Technology, he said such programmes would remind the people of the immortal greatness of Tamil culture.

He lauded the artists from different parts of the State, who performed at the function, and Chennai Sangamam coordinators Kanimozhi and Jegath Gaspar Raj for making the festival possible.

Besides classical art forms such as Bharathanatyam and ballet, Tamil folk dances such as `thappattam', `maankombattam', `poykalkuthirai', `karahattam' and `oyilattam,' performed at the inauguration, captured the journey and evolution of Tamil culture, art and literature right from the Sangam Age.

Ms. Kanimozhi and Rev. Jegath Gaspar Raj highlighted the significance of the festival.

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