Around 20 poets read their compositions, which were warmly appreciated by the audience. The next session is scheduled for the third week of February 2025. Aspiring poets interested in participating can contact Jairam Seshadri at 98844 45498. 

Around 1,000 participants from Tamil Nadu, representing students, teachers, farmers, artisans, professionals, and researchers, will attend. Another 200 Tamil students from Central Universities will join visits to Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya.

This year’s event coincides with the Maha Kumbh Mela (Jan.13 to Feb.26), allowing participants to take a Shahi Snan and visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The theme focuses on Sage Agasthyar, highlighting his contributions to Siddha medicine, Tamil literature, and cultural unity. Activities include exhibitions, workshops, and visits to key sites like Subramania Bharati’s ancestral home and BHU’s Tamil Department.

The Sangamam, launched in 2022, continues to revive and celebrate the rich cultural heritage connecting Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

The festival will include a variety of traditional performances, such as naiyyandi melam, thappattam, karagattam, kaavadiattam, thevarattam, sevaiattam, k     olattam, oyilattam, and silambattam, performed by over 1,500 artists from across Tamil Nadu. These performances will take place daily between 6 pm and 9 pm at various venues like Elliot’s Beach (Besant Nagar), Thiruvanmiyur Beach, and many more places across Chennai, celebrating the state’s rich cultural heritage.

Elliots Beach, Besant Nagar

• Jan.14: 6 pm – Erode Mugil Kalaikuzhu (Karakattam); 6.30 pm –
  Ramanathapuram Ma. Kaliyappan Troupe (Jimbala Melam); 7 pm –
  Srikala Bharath Troupe (Bharatanatyam); 7.30 pm – Virudhunagar Ramar Troupe (Parai); 8 pm – Villupuram Kai Kodukkum Kai Troupe (Mallar Gampam); 8.30 pm – Maharashtra Lavani; 
• Jan.15: 6 pm – Cuddalore Sri Renugambal Troupe (Irai Nadanam); 6.30 pm – Kalappai Troupe (rural variety show); 7 pm – Gandarvakottai Murugaiya Troupe (Gramiya Paattu); 7.30 pm: Coimbatore Murugan Troupe (Jikkattam); 8 pm – Thoothukudi Sai Karthikeyan Troupe (Kaniyan Koothu); 8.30 pm – Aduthurai Raj Visual Arts (Karikala Cholan Drama);
• Jan.16: 6 pm – Ramanathapuram B. Marungan Troupe (Naiyandi Melam Karakam); 6.30 pm – Thoothukudi Kannan Troupe (Devarattam); 7 pm – Dr.Purisai P.K. Sambandam Troupe (Kattakoottu); 7.30 pm: Krishnagiri Makizham Troupe (Bambayyattam); 8 pm – Coimbatore Sri Veeramathiyamman Bambai (Irai Nadanam); 8.30 pm: Rajasthan Ghoomar Dance;
• Jan.17: 6 pm: Thiruvarur Surjit Troupe (Kavadi Aattam); 6.30 pm –
  Kanchipuram Vivekananda Troupe; 7 pm – Kerala Theyyam; 7.30 pm: Tiruvallur Aathi Thamizhar Troupe; 8 pm: Kanyakumari Murasu Troupe (Kazhiyal Aattam); 8.30 pm – Makka The Band (concert);

Thiruvanmiyur Beach

• Jan.14: 6 pm – Virudhunagar Ramar Troupe (Parai); 6.30 pm – Villupuram Kai Kodukkum Kai Troupe (Mallar Gampam); 7 pm – Maharashtra Lavani; 7.30 pm – Nithyasree Mahadevan (Tamil Music); 8 pm – Erode Mugil Kalaikuzhu (Karakattam); 8.30 pm – Ramanathapuram Ma. Kaliyappan Troupe (Jimbala Melam);
• Jan.15: 6 pm: Coimbatore Murugan Troupe (Jikkattam); 6.30 pm – Thoothukudi Sai Karthikeyan Troupe (Kaniyan Koothu); 7 pm – Aduthurai Raj Visual Arts (Karikala Cholan Drama); 7.30 pm – Cuddalore Sri Renugambal Troupe (Irai Nadanam); 8 pm: Kalappai Troupe (rural variety show); 8.30 pm – Gandarvakottai Murugaiya Troupe (Gramiya Paattu);
• Jan.16: 6 pm: Krishnagiri Makizham Troupe (Bambayyattam); 6.30 pm – Coimbatore Sri Veeramathiyamman Bambai (Irai Nadanam); 7 pm: Rajasthan Ghoomar Dance; 7.30 pm – Ramanathapuram B. Marungan Troupe (Naiyandi Melam Karakam); 8 pm – Thoothukudi Kannan Troupe (Devarattam); 8.30 pm – Dr. Purisai P.K. Sambandam Troupe (Kattakoottu);
• Jan.17: 6 pm – Tiruvallur Aathi Thamizhar Troupe; 6.30 pm – Kanyakumari Murasu Troupe (Kazhiyal Aattam); 7 pm – Kashyap Band (concert); 7.30 pm – Thiruvarur Surjit Troupe (Kavadi Aattam); 8 pm – Kanchipuram Vivekananda Troupe; 8.30 pm: Mayiladuthurai Gananathar Drama Sabha (Bommalattam).

The corporation playground on Rukmani Road in Kalakshetra Colony came alive last Sunday evening (Jan.5) with a fabulous cast of puppet characters performing to a delighted audience of dozens. 

The dramatically painted puppets – depicting a village headman, municipal official, mother and schoolchildren, local wiseacres – used song and dance, wit and humour to put across socially useful messages on the harmful impacts of plastic. 

The performance was sponsored by the Kalakshetra Colony Welfare Association (KCWA) to support the struggling art of ‘bommalattam’, and the artistes trying to keep it alive. It drew a large number of colony residents, and more than 20 students invited from the corporation Gandhigram school, who especially enjoyed the banter between the puppets. 

The show was presented by Kalaimamani Muthuchandra Rao, who represents the sixth generation of a family of traditional puppeteers from Kanyakumari. Their small family-run troupe conceives and creates the entire production – script and lyrics, light and sound and the puppets, made from goatskin and coloured with eye-catching natural dyes. The puppet shows are their only source of livelihood. 

Moving from mythological stories, they increasingly focus on themes of contemporary importance, like environmental protection, the importance of education, and why it is essential to use helmets on scooters. “We have brought these issues to life in ways that online lessons cannot, especially for school students who have learned a lot from our shows,” says Mr. Muthuchandran, who is the remarkably talented voice for all the puppets in his show. 

But it’s increasingly difficult to keep this ancient art form and business afloat. Support from individuals helped them to take their show to 27 schools in Salem recently. “We want to perform in many more places to keep our art alive and earn the money to build a house for our 14 family members in Tirunelveli, where a local patron has helped us to get the land title,” he said during an interaction with the audience after the show. 

He said his troupe will be performing at the Mylapore Kapaleeswarar temple and four schools in the city and hopes for more commissions before they leave on January 18. 

In an age of ubiquitous video games and non-stop online entertainment, it was a rare treat to experience this timeless art of puppetry in real life and witness the passion and commitment of the artistes. The audience expressed its admiration with spontaneous and generous monetary contributions to help their cause of building a roof over their heads. 

The Executive Committee of KCWA requests other resident welfare associations, institutions, schools and interested individuals to do their bit to support this ancient art of Tamil Nadu by organising similar shows.

Shekhawat paid tribute to legendary artists, including Zakir Hussain, for their lifelong dedication to the arts. He also highlighted the ongoing cultural resurgence in India, which he said blends traditional values with modern influences.

The Minister noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has implemented measures to revitalize traditional arts and provide support to artists across the nation. ‘Vikas and Virasat’ were central to his message, emphasising the importance of preserving cultural traditions while fostering progress.

In addition, Shekhawat recognised the contributions of Rukmini Devi Arundale to the arts, particularly Bharatanatyam. He stated that her work in the field surpassed the offerings of any centre of excellence, and acknowledged her founding of the Kalakshetra Foundation 71 years ago, which continues to play a vital role in nurturing Indian classical arts.

As part of the event, Minister Shekhawat inaugurated a special exhibition celebrating the legacy of Indian classical arts. Padma Vibhushan awardee Vaijayanti Mala performed a Bhava Abhinayam.

During the event, Shekhawat honoured Vaijayanti Mala for her outstanding contributions to classical dance and Indian cinema.

Annual art festival at Kalakshetra

Kalakshetra Foundation, Thiruvanmiyur, invites all to its 71st Annual Art Festival. Tickets are available Online at www.mdnd.in; Ph: 24520836, 24521844; WhatsApp: 94443 34407.

At Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium. Schedule:

• Dec.29 at 6 pm: Kurmaavataram – Kalakshetra Foundation
• Dec.30 at 6 pm: Nirmanika – Singapore Apsaras Dance Company
• Dec.31: 5.30 pm – Carnatic Veena Concert – Ramana Balachandhran; 7 pm – Flute Concert – Pt. Ronu Majumdar;
• Jan.1 at 6 pm: Usha Parinayam – Kalakshetra Foundation
• Jan.2: 6 pm – Valedictory Function; 7 pm – Karna Sabadham – Kalakshetra Foundation.

The revamped website, www.volunteerguide.in, now features detailed profiles of over 100 NGOs, including their missions, contact details, and volunteering needs. Designed to streamline Chennai’s fragmented volunteering ecosystem, the platform has already connected over 3,000 users and garnered 35,000 views. Plans for expansion to Pondicherry, Coimbatore, and Bangalore are underway, with efforts to connect with NGOs in these cities.

The Global Shapers Chennai Community also showcased initiatives like a paper bag project empowering women from Chintadripet, a peer mentorship program for first-generation female earners, and an envelope-making initiative with the Lions Club supporting individuals with visual impairments. Additionally, a bilingual Tamil-English picture book developed in partnership with Yein Udaan, aims to enhance financial literacy in underserved communities.

The zero-waste event drew over 100 attendees, including representatives from prominent organisations like Bhumi, Siragu, Ability Foundation, and Goonj. Through projects like the Volunteer Guide and other community-driven efforts, the Global Shapers Community continues to champion volunteerism, education, and empowerment as catalysts for social change.

The contest celebrates the festival’s rich heritage and fosters a sense of community, as neighbours and friends come together to appreciate each other’s artistic efforts. Let’s take a closer look at the essence of this cherished tradition and the creative brilliance that continues to inspire awe and admiration in the hearts of all who partake in the celebration.

In this spirit, the Adyar Times Kolu Contest has become a much-anticipated event. Let’s take a closer look at the essence of this cherished tradition and the creative brilliance that continues to inspire awe and admiration in the hearts of all who partake in the celebration.

The prize distribution ceremony was held on Oct.18 at the Youth Hostel. J.P.Janakan – Managing Editor of Adyar Times, Indrani Janakan and R.Sundar – Secretary
of Hamsadhwani were the chief guests.

We would also like to express our sincere thanks to our sponsors Kauvery Hospital, Cotton House, KTK Kalyana Sundaram (MKTK Sundaram Realty), Mia by Tanishq, Hamsadhwani and Prakruthi Vummidi Bangaru Store, whose support made this celebration even more special.

Check out what the sponsors say about the contest…

A special ‘thank you’ to our esteemed judges, Usha Srivatsa and Renganayaki Srinivasan, for their valuable time and expertise in evaluating each Kolu.

The judges share their experience of the Kolu…

We congratulate every participant for their remarkable celebration of tradition, art, and community. Here are the list of this year’s winners:

Sundhya Ramanujam (Kasturba Nagar)

Veena Krishnan (Indira Nagar)

Usha Mukund (Indira Nagar)

Bhuma Vijay (Perungudi)

S.Pratiksha (Thiruvanmiyur)

Subha Lakshmanan (Karpagam Gardens)

Jayashree Hemchand (Kalakshetra Colony)

S.Kirthika (Thiruvanmiyur)

P. Balagopal Ramamoorthy (Kasturba Nagar)

Ramya Mani (Venkateshwara Nagar, Adyar)

Nandhini Arun (Besant Nagar)

Indirani Swaminathan (Kottur Gardens)

Srividhya Mahesh (Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar)

Aarthi Magesh (Perungudi)

Reflecting on the past three decades, we cannot overlook the contributions of our Founder, Late S.P. Ambrose. His vision for a neighbourhood newspaper that unites the community, continues to inspire our efforts even today. A pioneer in introducing the concept of a local English weekly in Adyar, he faced numerous challenges in the early years but remained determined to keep the paper thriving.

Mr.Ambrose consistently introduced innovative ideas to engage both readers and advertisers. His initiatives included community events, starting with our first Kolu celebration in 1994, providing an opportunity for the homemakers to showcase their talents. Other creative activities, like the treasure hunt on bicycles and the cake weight guessing game, further strengthened community ties. The crowning achievement was sponsoring the Adyar Times FIDE-rated Open Chess Tournament, from 2001 till date year after year. Each milestone was enriched by the warmth and enthusiasm of our community, reflecting his enduring legacy.

We’ve been deeply touched by words like, “My Sunday is not complete without reading Adyar Times,” and stories from advertisers who have experienced newfound recognition and success through their partnerships with us.

Your encouragement drives us to innovate and improve, constantly learning and unlearning, to deliver quality content and advertising solutions.

Change is the only constant, and over the past decade, Adyar Times has embraced it entirely. We are witnessing how digital and social media have transformed our Connect with our readers and the community.

Our team is dedicated to negotiating through these changes while staying true to our core values. Our newly revamped website, www.adyartimes.in, launched in 2023 keeps you updated with local news and important stories.

Starting this year, we are showcasing many more inspiring stories and highlighting the people of our neighbourhood on our social media platforms – Facebook (Adyar Times) and Instagram (adyartimes_offl). We’re excited to see these videos gaining recognition not only within our community but also beyond.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our readers and advertisers for embracing our digital transformation. Your support inspires us to continue celebrating the incredible stories that define our community!

– J. P. Janakan

The highlight of the evening was a captivating keynote session delivered by Dr.C.Sylendra Babu, IPS (Retd), Former DGP of Tamil Nadu. His insightful address on ‘Effective Communication for Efficient Leadership’ resonated with the audience, leaving them motivated and eager to hone their communication skills. The second keynote speaker was distinguished Toastmaster Dr Rajeshwar Sundaresan.

Members also showcased their public speaking talents through prepared speeches and impromptu sessions, while others participated in interactive games and exercises designed to enhance communication and leadership abilities. For more information or to join the club, visit medleytoastmasters.com or contact TM Barath at 90941 68977.

Chennai residents will be treated to a visual spectacle as 72 aircrafts from the IAF perform a series of breathtaking aerobatic manoeuvres and synchronised formations. The show will feature the elite Akash Ganga team, famed for their skydiving expertise, the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team with their high-speed formation flying, and the Sarang Helicopter Display Team, known for their stunning aerial choreography.

The event will also include a flypast of aircraft from the IAF’s modern fleet, including the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, representing India’s state-of-the-art indigenously manufactured aviation technology. In addition, heritage aircraft such as the Dakota and Harvard are expected to participate, adding a touch of history to the show.

Chennai is the latest location to host such a spectacle, following the previous air show at the Prayagraj Sangam in 2023, which attracted large crowds. A similarly enthusiastic response is anticipated at Marina Beach, where the event will be open to the public from 11 am.

This grand celebration not only highlights the IAF’s aviation prowess but also aims to inspire a sense of national pride in its strength, capability, and dedication to defending India’s skies.