Tamilnadu, India

Tamilnadu is a picturesque land known for its beauty spread so lavishly. It is a window to the modern South India as much as it is a wide open archive of ancient legacies. It is the land that has seen the rise and fall of many an ancient kingdom viz., the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Cheras, the Pallavas and many others, each leaving behind incredible cultural treasures. The states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka merge in a lovely cluster of hills called the Nilgiris or Blue Mountains.

The music and dance of Tamil Nadu originated in the temples. Different groups of people were appointed to sing divine songs in the temples. Officers called Thevara Nayakams or leaders of the world of music, arranged the private worship of kings and group singing. Tamilnadu has produced some great musicians like the Indian musical maestro of the 18th century, Tyagaraja. The main instruments used are the violin, wooden flute, veena, gottuvadayam, mridangam, nagaswaram and ghatam. Bharat Natyam is probably the best known and one of the most respected classical dances of India and is Tamilnadu's gift to Indian culture.

Pongal festival, Jallikattu-Bull fight in January; Chitthiraj festival, Mamallapuram dance festival, Chidambaram dance festival, Mahamagam festival in Kumbakonam, Arubathimoovar festival at Chennai, Summer festival in Ooty; Kanthuri festival, Kavaddi festival on Palani Hills, Velankanni festival, Navarathri, Karthigai Deepam or Festival of Lights, Music festival in Chennai during December are the major festivals.