OMR Sabha: How Chennai’s OMR is celebrating Margazhi

Kachchi followed by revelers having dinner at ‘Ohmaragazi Mahotsav’ at APL Global School, Thoraipakkam. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The first day of the Tamil month of Margazhi (16 December) of Hymavathi Raghuraman was quite eventful. At 4 pm she boarded a special bus from outside her residence at Ramanalam Pushkar in Sholinganallur. He was accompanied by 20 other residents of his apartment – ​​they went to APL Global School, located about nine kilometers from his residence, for the first day of the ‘Ohmargazi Festival’.

they were treated Hymn by popular singer Shivshree Skandaprasad, followed by the presentation of Lasya Chudamani Award to famous singer Bombay Jayashree. And of course, some good food in line with the Margazhi Sabha culture in Chennai.

“It’s great that we have such a music festival in our area. We are looking forward to the evenings of this month,” says Hymavati.

Anyone familiar with Chennai’s OMR will have stories to tell about the traffic towards Tidal Park Junction and other nearby parts, which has now increased due to the ongoing metro rail construction. Hence, the Ohmaragazhi Festival aims to “bring the Mylapore experience to OMR”.

“Now one need not travel long distances to Kutchhi. This festival gives people from these neighborhoods a chance to experience the sabha culture,” believes Shivshree Skandaprasad.

For Shivshree, it is also a chance to spread her art to a new audience. “We’re looking forward to seeing excited, new faces in addition to our usual audience,” she says.

While music, dance and theater are the main attractions, there are other reasons to head to OMR. If the pre-concert breakfast includes dishes like aloo bonda, sambar vada and kara paniyaram, the post-concert dinner serves sambar rice, chapatti with curd rice. Layam Catering Services, based in Pallikaranai and in charge of the food department, also serves no onion, no garlic options, keeping in mind the incoming crowd.

Singer Bombay Jayashree with the organizers of ‘Ohmaragazi Festival’. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

All this is free with a simple registration process that can be done online. “I hope this gathering Bombay will give a boost to the arts,” believes Jayashree, adding, “With many residents moving to OMR, it may gradually become the cultural hub of the city.”

Organized by Ramayan Builders’ non-profit Project Lasya in partnership with the Federation of OMR Residents Associations (FOMRRA), the festival aims to celebrate the spirit of Margazhi and bring more cultural and social activities to enrich life on OMR. Car-pooling and bus services are also available for pick-up and drop-off for substantial number of guests visiting the festival from the same apartment complex. “It’s heartwarming to see so many people Rasik Enjoying the culture and heritage they’ve been missing since moving to the suburbs. Harsh Koda, co-founder of FOMMRA, says, “Life cannot be limited to just struggle for work and facilities… we have to “live” life too.

This Margazzi, they definitely are.

Ohmargazhi Mahotsav will run from 5 pm every evening till December 30 at Janaki Ammal Auditorium, located at APL Global School, Thoraipakkam. Admission is free, but registration is mandatory. For details, log on to www.ohmargazhi.com