CHENNAI: The city will witness a tribute to its heritage and culture at the annual week-long ‘Madras Week’ beginning on August 16.
Expectation has soared this time following last year’s success of the event, which had almost 200 and odd groups.
Programmes like group-walks with special focus on food, photography, history etc were a hit in the previous edition which drew in a swarm of people taking renewed interest in the city. This time, the idea is to encourage a localised approach, by helping organise area-wise activities. For example, the Fort St George trip last time was conducted by Heritage Club of schools taking students to the oldest landmark (375 years) from where the city came to grow. “We would even like to have a Kutthupaatu event. It is such a Madras thing isn’t it,” says Vincent D’Souza, one of the key organisers of Madras Week.
“There is an upsurge of citizen-driven programmes of late. This Madras Week is an unique movement to celebrate them” says S R Madhu of Rotary Club (Madras South), member of the Madras Week team. Whether it’s a walk to identify 70 types of trees or a gallery show, the essence of Madras Week is ultimately to bring realisation on the cultural value of this city.
Founded by historian S Muthiah, the board of Madras Week, comprises journalists, members of Indian National Trust for Art and Heritage (INTACH) and the Rotary Club of Madras.
The web page www.madrasweek.in is the official platform for all updates and an updated version of the Madras Week app is also in the pipeline. Simultaneously, those interested in planning group activities or events to celebrate or experience Madras, could write to editor@madrasmusings.com and themadrasday@gmail.com and they would serve as the networking platform and the go-to people for anyone with an idea.