Nidhi chala sukhama (Kalyani) : 'Oh mind! Tell me which confers genuine happiness - Wealth or the Vision of Rama?' (An oft-quoted song extolling a life of devotion.)- Thyagaraja

The Madras (Chennai) Music & Dance Season celebrated during the latter half of December & early part of January is a cultural extravaganza that has no parallel anywhere in the world.

The Margazhi festival was started way back in 1927, as an event to commemorate with the founding of Madras Music Academy in the month of December. The Madras Music Academy was founded in December 1927 as the outcome of an All-India music conference held during the Madras session of the Indian National Congress. The Academy started conducting a music festival in a small way every December and with the subsequent growth of the Academy, to gigantic proportions.

This event was widely accepted & patronised by the public at large, due to various reasons, prominent among which are possibly, that it is a cool time in the otherwise hot & sultry city and secondly it is holiday time. This culture was adopted by various other sabhas that hold art festivals in different parts of the city.

A unique feature of this art festival is the fact that up & coming artistes also get a chance to exhibit their talents to this city of music & dance lovers at large along with the well established artistes. Art lovers from various parts of the world visit the city during this season and in nearly all the sabhas, there is always a rush for tickets.