In a bid to popularize 'Chennai Sangamam' and make it more inclusive, the state government on Monday announced that the festival to promote culture and folk arts, earlier held only in Chennai, will now be organized in eight more cities.

Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said this decision would take folk arts to the younger generation. “To enable the younger generation to imbibe and appreciate our celebrated art heritage, the government will expand the widely popular Chennai Sangamam cultural programme to eight major cities in the coming year,” he said. Chennai Sangamam (also known as Chennai Confluence) was earlier conducted as a private function organized by DMK MP Kanimozhi and her team. Though the function was not conducted from 2012 to 2021, it was later held as Namma Ooru Thiruvizha (meaning “festival of our place”), organized by Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

After criticisms that folk artists were not promoted in the event, it was handed back to Kanimozhi and conducted as 'Chennai Sangamam – Namma Ooru Thiruvizha'.

The Finance Minister said folk artists would benefit greatly if the event was held across the state. “It will provide a platform to nurture folk art and artists and celebrate the shared cultural ethos of Tamil people.”

Media: The Times of India