South India · State
Tamil Nadu
Living Chola and Pandya temple traditions, a classical literature going back two millennia, hill stations in the Nilgiris and a long temple-town coastline.
- Capital
- Chennai
- Languages
- Tamil (official); English (additional official); Telugu, Kannada in border districts — major and official languages, not an exclusive list.
Cultural traditions, arts & crafts
- • Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music, with the Chennai December season
- • Kanchipuram silk weaving and Chettinad cotton
- • Bronze casting at Swamimalai using the lost-wax method
- • Tanjore painting with gold foil and gemstone work
Major festivals
- Pongal — 14–17 January
- Chithirai Festival, Madurai — April–May (dates vary — verify current dates)
- Mahamaham / temple car festivals — Varies by temple (dates vary — verify current dates)
Traditional dress & textiles
Dress varies by community, district, occasion and generation; everyday clothing today is often contemporary. These are representative traditions rather than a single state costume.
- • Kanchipuram silk saris are the classic wedding textile; cotton saris are common daily wear
- • The pattu pavadai (half-sari) is worn by girls at ceremonies
- • Men wear the veshti (dhoti) with an angavastram at temples and weddings
Where to go
Show Tamil Nadu on the explore mapSources & verify
- Tamil Nadu Tourism (official)
- Know India — States & UTs (Government of India)
- Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles
Last reviewed: August 2026. Cultural traditions in India vary by community, district, occasion and generation. The notes below are representative examples reviewed against government sources, not exhaustive or official definitions. Festival timings follow lunar or locally announced calendars — verify current dates with the relevant state tourism department before travelling.