Date:17/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/17/stories/2008011758610300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Chennai Sangamam to culminate in Elliot’s Beach

Staff Reporter

Float parade to be based on the theme of ‘thinai’
Assortment of folk performances on the cards

Chennai: The Elliot’s Beach is all set to transform into a carnival of folk art and traditional cuisine for Chennai Sangamam’s finale on Thursday evening.

A float parade based on the theme of ‘thinai’ (a poetic device in Tamil Sangam literature) is scheduled at 5.30 p.m. Each float will showcase a landscape, its flora, fauna and people.

The landscapes of ‘marutham’ (fertile cropland), ‘mullai’ (forests), ‘kurinji’ (mountainous regions) and ‘neithal’ (seashore) would be depicted.

An assortment of folk performances is on the cards, as the 1,200 artists who were part of the Chennai Sangamam will gather at the beach.

Tamil Maiyam founder Jegath Gasper Raj said that a variety of traditional cuisine would be available at one spot.

People could sample Virudhunagar, Madurai, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur and Kongu Nadu cuisine besides taking home packets of Tirunelveli halwa or Srivilliputhur palkova.

The celebrations would end at about 8.30 p.m. after a show of fireworks.