At the Chettinad Heritage and Cultural Festival, a revival takes root
The Chettinad Heritage and Cultural Festival, organized by Meenakshi Meyyappan, aims to preserve the unique architectural and cultural legacy of the Chettinad region. The initiative seeks to revitalize interest in the area's historic mansions and prevent the loss of traditional knowledge.
Why it matters
Cultural preservation efforts are critical for maintaining regional identity and heritage in the face of modernization and urban decay.
Sometimes a revival looks like a family wedding: fleets of cars , precise handwritten notes , a staccato of urgent phone calls and the luxurious rustle of silk saris .
At the bougainvillea-framed The Bangala in Karaikudi, on the eve of the Chettinad Heritage and Cultural Festival , the formidable Mrs Meenakshi Meyyappan sits at the centre of it all. A room in her relaxed boutique hotel has been converted into a temporary control room, jostling with books, cardboard boxes and friends-turned-volunteers.
At 92, she has been up early every morning for months, working out the festival schedule, personally inviting speakers and guests, planning daily menus and overseeing room allotments. In the five years that it has run, the festival has brought tourism, attention and change to Chettinad, introducing the rest of the country to the treasures of this unique arid landscape, punctuated by sprawling, extravagant mansions.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in