The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Parks turn centres of festivities

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Monday, Jan 14, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Parks turn centres of festivities

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Recently-resurrected parks across the city have become centres of festivities for the Chennai Sangamam.

At parks, including My Ladye’s Park and May Day Park, the chairs set up before small stages were soon filled and the audience spilled over to the lawns on Saturday evening. Several residents seemed dazed by the starburst of folk art over their neighbourhoods. At the May Day Park, Kanniyan Koothu was organised. Performed in traditional style, with men dressed as women, it was received with hushed silence.

The urban audience seemed more at home with the food stalls at the entry to the park, drifting over occasionally to savour a cup of coffee or the many varieties of local fast-food on sale. The Chennai Sangamam also ventured on to commercial territory later on Saturday evening, joining hands with traders in T. Nagar to provide a complete package of commerce and culture to the Pongal shopper. Folk art performances were scheduled from 8 p.m. in the Panagal park and Natesan park area and traders announced a special three per cent discount for Saturday.

The Chennai Sangamam festivities will continue at various locations across the city on Sunday.

At Nageswara Rao Park, Mylapore, Paraiattam, Nayanadi Melam, Karagam, Kavadi Attam, Thevar Attam and folk songs will be performed at 5 p.m., followed by a Tamil dance drama ‘Dasavatharam’ by Roja Kannan and troupe.

Various folk art forms, including Uriadi, Jimla Melam, Kavadi Attam, Chakai Kuchi Attam, Chendai Melam and Porparai, will be performed at Natesan Park, T. Nagar, at 5 p.m. and at Tower Park, Anna Nagar, at 5.15 p.m.

Vocalist O.S. Arun will perform at 6.30 p.m. at May Day Park, Chintadripet, while a concert by Carnatic musician Nityasri would be held at Tower Park, Anna Nagar, at 7 p.m. A light music performance by Grace Karunas will be held at Queen Mary’s College at 7 p.m.

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