culture

Culture of TamilNadu
Tamilnadu Culture
Tamil Nadu is bounded by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the north and Kerala in the west. The eastern and western tips of the state are defined by the Point Calimere and Mudumalai wildlife sanctuaries while the northern extreme is Pulicat lake and the southernmost tip is Kanyakumari, the land's end. Tamil Nadu is principally washed by the Cauvery, originating in Coorg in neighbouring Karnataka. Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu.
The Tamils have an ancient history. Under the Pallava, Chola & Pandya kings art, architecture & literature flourished and reached great heights. Tamil language has a history which can be traced back to the age of the Tolkapiyam, the Tamil Grammar text generally ascribed to 500 B.C. Sangam literature of the Tamils dates back to500 B.C. The Tamils have always been a hospitable race, known for their generous nature.
The People: Tamil, the official state language, is spoken by most of the people. The main religions in the state are Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Jainism. Hindu families owe allegiance to a number of sectarian monastic institutions, or maths, of which the most important is the Shankara Math at Kumbakonam. Although Tamil Nadu is one of the most urbanized states of India, it is still a rural land; agriculture is the mainstay of life for about three-quarters of the rural population. Tamil Nadu is rich in handicrafts; notable among them are handloomed silk, metal icons, leather work, kalamkari (hand-painted fabric, using natural dyes), brass, bronze, and copper wares, and carved wood, palm leaf, and cane articles.
Festivals: Pongal festival, Jallikattu-Bull fight in January; Chitthiraj festival, Mamallapuram dance festival, Chidambaram dance festival, Mahamagam festival in Kumbakonam, Arubathimoovar festival at Chennai, Summer festival in Ooty; Courtallm ritual bathing festival, Kanthuri festival, Kavaddi festival on Palani Hills, Velankanni festival, Navarathri, Karthigai Deepam or Tamil Nadu's Festival of Lights, Music festival in Chennai during December.
Climate: The climate is essentially tropical. The temperature in summer seldom 43º C and in winter seldom falls below 18º C. The lowest temperatures are recorded during December and January, and the highest in April to June. The average annual rainfall, falling mainly between October and December, ranges between 25 and 75 inches. The most precipitation falls in the Nilgiris and other hill areas.