Chennai:

Tamil New Year, commonly known as Chithirai Vizha, was celebrated at Raja Annamalai Mandram by Tamil Isai Kalluri (Tamil Music College) on Friday.

This event was organised for the Consul Generals of the many foreign consulates in Chennai. Consul Generals of the United States, Australia, Russia, Thailand, Japan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius were present on the occasion.

Students from the college presented various traditional dances of Tamil Nadu. The described the origins of each dance, and through the dances explained the different cultural implications.

There was the kummi, a Chettinad speciality; oyilattam and thappattam from Nammakkal and Dharmapuri respectively; kollatam from Tirunelveli; meenavar nadanam from Kanyakumari; udukkaiattam and kathiattam from Tanjore; pavaiattam and therukoothu from Thiruvannamalai; kavadiattam, mayilattam and poikal kuthirai from Palani and Coimbatore. A must mention is the performance where students danced the karagattam with candles on their heads.

David Holly, Australian Consul General, said, “I was really amazed by the performances that portrayed the culture and tradition of Tamil Nadu. And I wish all Tamilians across the Indian Ocean a happy and prosperous New Year.”

The event was presided over by industrialist A C Muthiah and his wife Devaki Muthiah and was organised by their daughter Valli Arun.

A C Muthiah said, “It is quite hard for foreigners to realise the diveristy of Tamil culture. But today we gave them an opportunity to enjoy it all on a single stage.”

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / South> Southern News> Chennai / The New Indian Express , Express News Service / April 16th, 2012