Sriram Balasubramanian

The month of Margazhi (16 Dec 2011-14 Jan 2012) in the Tamil Calendar has been synonymous with the city of Madras (now Chennai). The dawn of Margazhi in this calendar year is significant in its own unique sense to the city of Madras. As Margazhi embraces the beautiful city, it is indeed a wonderful experience, an experience that goes hand in hand complimenting both the city and the added significance of the margazhi month in contemporary lifestyle.

The first significant change about Margazhi is the gradual change in weather. Sweltering heat takes a back seat, rain season abrupt to a standstill and the city transforms during Margazhi to have a pleasant climate with temperatures in mid 20’s, you actually feel blessed to have such a time of the year. The oozing breeze over the Marina Beach would zip through your ears; it wouldn’t be too wild, it would be too flashy, it wouldn’t be extravagant but it would be just like the city of Madras; elegant and gracious. Moreover, the spiritual renaissance for the people in the city in early morning temple darshans with bajans during Margazhi uplifts the spiritual coefficient of people. When one talks about elegance, apart from the weather and the temple darshans, how can one forget about the famed December music season?

Thousands of Carnatic music fans from across the world throng the premises of the various Sabha’s in the city to immerse themselves in the ocean of carnatic music. One of the significant aspects of the music season is that it caters to multiple sections of society and unites people from various walks of life to one congregated location(s). The musical elite love the renditions during the season and they appreciate/criticize every single move made by the artists. To this group of people, musical nuance is the closest to godliness and the purity in music liberates them to happiness unexplained. On the other hand, you have people who know little about the nuances of music but like to be in the musical scene for their individual pleasure and also social importance. They also love the food that is served by the cafeteria in these sabhas. Food is an amazing attraction for the large sections of people and it complements the musical discourse. The third section is for the elderly in the city as the season provides a perfect relaxation point and spiritual up liftment for the older citizens especially the ones who attend the Namasankeertanam concerts in the Saba’s. The last section of people who get into this cultural elegance is the NRI followers. NRI’s make their trip to India during this time and find this as a good opportunity to reconnect with their roots. It is a readymade opportunity for their offspring’s to display their musical talents in the pinnacle of musical excellence. In all of these cases, the Margazhi season has the ability to bring together the people of the city (or who originated from the city) for a common pursuit such as music. This unifying aspect of the music season is something that one can rarely argue against even when I argue against it with friends. However, it also does one more thing very successfully which very often is underplayed.

Margazhi season, being an integral part of the Madras fabric, creates a unique identity that no other city in India or the world can boast of. It is an identity that is steeped in musical aesthetics, that is steeped in tradition and one that exhibits a deep understanding of the historical context to which the city has come about. It complements the identity of a city that prefers elegance over extravagance on anything that is to offer. It reflects the identity of a city that is educated enough to distinguish between what is classy and the mediocre. In addition, it also represents the pride in which it embraces its conservative restraint rather than opulent aping of popular phenomenon’s that are blindly followed across the world.

Be it the elegant breeze through the Marina, be it the cultural influx of the music season and be it the festivities at the end of the year; being in Madras during this period of the year is a great experience. It is an experience which reaffirms the ability of this great city to adapt itself towards change yet preserve and embrace its own identity in its own elegant style.

Madras and Margazhi are indeed the magic twins of India!!

Bottom Line : The city's identity is often reinforced by the tamil month and the artistic festivities around

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