- By Priyanka Munshi
- Tue, 22 Aug 2023 10:26 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Madras Day 2023: Every year, the city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras, holds a ceremony called Madras Day to honor its founding. Every year on August 22, people in Chennai dwell on the celebrations of Madras Day. The city's rich history, cultural legacy, and transformation into a thriving metropolis are celebrated on Madras Day. In order to promote a sense of pride and community among Chennai residents, the day frequently includes a range of events, including heritage tours, speeches, exhibitions, and cultural performances.
Madras Day 2023 History And Significance
History states that on August 22, 1639, Damarla Venkatadri Nayaka, the viceroy of the Vijayanagar Empire, sold the settlement of Madraspatnam, or Chennapatnam, to East India Company representatives Andrew Cogan and Francis Day. Also, according to The Madras Day, "Madras Day was an idea that three people put together—the city’s famed historian, S. Muthiah, journalist Sashi Nair, and publisher Vincent DSouza. Later, they have been joined by three others: senior journalist and editor Sushila Ravindranath, journalist and website entrepreneur Revathi R, and entrepreneur and writer-historian V. Sriram."
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Madras Day has two important meanings. It is a day set aside first and foremost to honor Chennai's past and present. The city's history, which dates to the 17th century, is lengthy and varied. It has hosted residents from all across India and the globe, and as a result, its culture reflects this diversity. Second, Madras Day is a time to celebrate community pride and harmony. Although Chennai is a sizable and complicated city, it is also a bustling and multicultural one. On Madras Day, people from all walks of life join together to honor their city.
In addition, Chennai is well-known for so many other reasons, like healthcare, tourism, IT, cinema, and education. On Madras Day, everyone comes together to celebrate with fun dance and music performances, poetry readings, heritage tours, school exchange programs, photo exhibits, cuisine festivals, and rallies for classic cars and bikes. Madras Day celebrations are growing in popularity every year.
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To commemorate Madras Day specifically this year, 75 events will be held. Of them, the city will host 20 seminars and more than 15 heritage walks. The stroll will also take place inside St. George's Fort and the Madras High Court. A photowalk in Royapettah will take place on August 27, and there will be a visit to the Madras Museum in Egmore on August 26.