Namma Ooru Thiruvizha -Chennai

Namma Ooru Thiruvizha 2022

Namma Ooru Thiruvizha - ‘The Festival of Our Land’ is an annual fest which acts as a confluence of local art and folk, organised by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Arts and Culture, Tamil Nadu. In 2022, this festival was held as a one-day celebration, with over 400 performers from all around the state executing different traditional styles of art and culture. The event was organised as part of the 75th Independence Day celebration, known as "Sudhanthira Thirunaal Amutha Peruvizha."

Many local traditional artists faced pandemic-induced unemployment during COVID due to a shortage of performing opportunities. Under the direction of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Department of Tourism and the Department of Arts and Culture collaborated to stage this one-day fiesta focusing on reviving the traditional art and folk of the state. The celebration was inaugurated by the Minister for Industries, Thangam Thennarasu, and Minister for Tourism, Dr. M Mathiventhan, at the Island Grounds, Chennai, on March 21st, 2022.

Some of the festival's highlights were a performance of traditional drum fusion played and choreographed by "Drums-Sivamani and dance master Brindha." During the event, traditional music performances such as Mangala Isai, Periya Melam, Thudumbu Melam, Pambai Melam, and Naiyandi Melam were presented to awe the audience. Some of the dance styles, art forms, and entertainment acts done at the festival includes thol paavai koothu, mayil attam, poikkal kuthirai attam, karagam, Kaalai attam, saattai kuchi attam, jikkattam, todar attam, and sevai attam.

The event attracted around 5000 spectators from all over the state. This annual festival is celebrated in order to support traditional art and folk artists of the state.