Artists from Northeast add flair to Chennai Sangamam

Chennai: From Chennai's gaana singers walking the ramp in clothes made by the state's weavers, to artistes from Manipur performing the Lai Haraoba dance, and performers from Assam presenting the Mising dance, Chennai Sangamam 2026 proved to be a refreshing celebration of cultures. The brainchild of MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Chennai Sangamam attempts to showcase Tamil Nadu's rural heritage and, in recent editions, art forms from northeastern states and others such as Gujarat. About 1,500 artistes are taking part in the event, scheduled across 20 locations in the city from Jan 15 to 18.
"Usually, promotions of saris in the state are associated with well-known faces. This time, we thought, why not promote them through our very own folk artistes — the custodians of our grassroots heritage — through a fashion show," Cooptex managing director Kavitha Ramu told TOI about the ramp walk at Egmore museum on Saturday.With extensive references to the importance of aadai (clothing) as quoted in Sangam literature, 33 artistes, ranging from transgender Bharatanatyam dancers and gaana singers to oyilattam folk dancers, walked the ramp. "They wore a range of our weavers' works, from Kanchipuram and Thirubuvanam silks to Sungudi saris from Madurai," said Kavi Mani, lecturer at Govt College of Fine Arts, Chennai, and an organiser.While audiences clicked photographs of artistes on the ramp at the museum, a few kilometres away at Besant Nagar's Elliot's Beach, crowds were seen taking pictures with performers after their shows. "We belong to the Mising community, one of the largest tribal groups in Assam. We performed a series of dances signifying prosperity before the harvest back home," said dancer Juntara Doley. Dancer Meneka Ngasepam, who runs the Meneka Nritya Academy in Moirang, Manipur, performed the Lai Haraoba dance, symbolising creation of life and the growth of civilisation, at a playground in Saidapet. "After performing, we were felicitated with a shawl, and many walked up to us to say we performed beautifully," she said. Bhavya Rao, an arts student from Hyderabad, said Chennai Sangamam was an educative experience for her. "I came to Chennai to visit a friend and found myself going to Besant Nagar beach every day. I learnt about folk art forms from across the country and even got an idea for my final-year project," she said.