DakshinaChitra Museum

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DakshinaChitra Museum Dakshinachitra Heritage Museum portrays the living traditions of art, folk performing arts, crafts and architecture with special emphasis to South India.

Nalukettu: An Architectural Expression of Kerala’s Climate, Culture and SocietyHow does a traditional house reflect the ...
28/08/2026

Nalukettu: An Architectural Expression of Kerala’s Climate, Culture and Society

How does a traditional house reflect the climate, culture, beliefs, social structure and everyday life of the people who lived in it?

Join us for an online talk on the traditional Nalukettu, exploring how this distinctive Kerala house form evolved through a combination of Vastu principles, traditional craftsmanship, climate-responsive design, spatial organisation, religion, social hierarchy and family life.

The talk will also look at the architectural elements and spaces that make the Nalukettu unique—from the central courtyard and verandahs to associated structures and functional spaces**—and how these features reveal the relationship between architecture and society.

The session will further explore the changing form of the Nalukettu and how shifts in family structures, social practices and modern lifestyles contributed to the decline of traditional residential architecture.

📅 30 August
💻 Online Talk: https://meet.google.com/jxr-ngwf-mwf
📍 Join us as we explore the Nalukettu not simply as a house, but as a reflection of the people, traditions and environment of Kerala.

Save the date and join us for the conversation!

27/08/2026

As we celebrate Handloom Day through the month of Aug, come explore DakshinaChitra Library’s collection of books on weaving traditions, textile history, techniques, and the rich handloom heritage of India.

Wedding season is right around the corner! Commemorate your special day with us here at DakshinaChitra Museum. Reach out...
24/08/2026

Wedding season is right around the corner! Commemorate your special day with us here at DakshinaChitra Museum. Reach out to us at [email protected] to make your vision boards come alive.

Kodu, Kattam, Korvai: The Saris from the Houses of Chettinadu was inaugurated on the 21st of August. The exhibition pres...
23/08/2026

Kodu, Kattam, Korvai: The Saris from the Houses of Chettinadu was inaugurated on the 21st of August. The exhibition presents a rare and significant collection of saris originating from the homes of Chettiar families in Chettinadu. Collected and preserved by Julie Wayne, a French connoisseur and scholar of Tamil crafts and textiles, the collection offers a unique glimpse into a textile tradition that has largely disappeared from contemporary memory.

We are grateful to have Mr. T. N. Venkatesh, IAS - Principal Secratasry to Government Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles, and Khadi Department as our guest of honour.
We would also like to show our special thanks to Ms. Visalakshi Ramasamy for her invaluable subject expertise, who has been a dedicated member in preserving Chettinad culture for over the last 25 years.

We also thank Dr. Toolika Gupta, Director of IICD, Jaipur and Dr. Bessie Cecil, our curator for making this exhibition come true.

Ms. Visalakshi Ramasamy elucidates the reason behind the creation of M. Rm. Rm. Foundation where she has dedicated the last 25 years to preserving Chettinad culture and traditions and how she felt responsible in reviving century old traditions.

She talked about her experience with weavers and advocated for regain respect for doing the craft. She took measures to conserve the tradition of weaving among Chettinad weavers in regards to their daily wage requirements and compensating them fairly for their work.

Ms. Visalakshi Ramasamy elucidates the reason behind the creation of M. Rm. Rm. Foundation where she has dedicated the last 25 years to preserving Chettinad culture and traditions and how she felt responsible in reviving century old traditions.

She talked about her experience with weavers and advocated for regain respect for doing the craft. She took measures to conserve the tradition of weaving among Chettinad weavers in regards to their daily wage requirements and compensating them fairly for their work.

Mr. T. N. Venkatesh, IAS - Principal Secratasry to Government Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles, and Khadi Department recounts the history of the Chettinad Silk Sari, known as Kandangi and the evolution to cotto

What is a vahana? More than a divine mount, the processional vahana is the material means and the symbolic mediator thro...
20/08/2026

What is a vahana? More than a divine mount, the processional vahana is the material means and the symbolic mediator through which a deity enters the public world.

This post spotlights Dakshinachitra’s collection of processional vahanas from the Religious Art Gallery, with a special focus on the Kamadhenu. We explore how the vahana transforms the deity’s presence, identity, and relationship with the public.

The vahana’s journey extends far beyond the movement from sanctum to street. It is also a journey from iconography into diverse artistic forms, shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, accumulated craft knowledge, and the skilled labour of generations of craftspeople. Even its materials bear the imprint of procession: built to be carried, lifted, balanced, and repeatedly transported through crowded streets, vahanas have evolved in response to the physical demands placed upon them.

Yet the vahana is most important precisely because it makes the intangible tangible. During the procession, it performs fascinating dichotomous functions- it simultaneously humanizes and aggrandizes the deity. The omniscient, metaphysical deity—and its miniature manifestation moving through the festival—becomes instantly recognizable, familiar, approachable, and majestic.

The vahana therefore occupies many roles at once- mount, companion, attribute, and even vanquished foe. It is through the vahana that the deity finds perhaps its fullest expression amongst the crowds of a South Indian Hindu temple festival.

(Sources in the next caption)

References (with links)
Dehejia, Harsha V. Gods beyond Temples. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2006.
Karthick, G, and Gangatharan. “Wooden Vahanas of the Tiruvanaikka Temple.” Ijpss, vol. 5, no. 1, 2015, https://www.ijmra.us/project%20doc/2015/IJPSS_JANUARY2015/IJMRA-6745.pdf. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.
Kolappan, B. “Thiruvathigai, Where Temple Vahanas and Chariots Are Crafted in Tamil Nadu.” The Hindu, 29 Aug. 2025, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/thiruvathigai-where-temple-vahanas-and-chariots-are-crafted-in-tamil-nadu/article69983982.ece. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.
Lakshmi, N, and M Sivakumar. Role of Wooden Sculptures in Temple

Discover KODU, KATTAM, KORVAI: The Saris from the Houses of Chettinadu, a rare exhibition showcasing a largely lost text...
20/08/2026

Discover KODU, KATTAM, KORVAI: The Saris from the Houses of Chettinadu, a rare exhibition showcasing a largely lost textile tradition. Curated from the private collection of Julie Wayne in collaboration with IICD Jaipur, this event will be inaugurated by T.N. Venkatesh, I. A. S., Principal Secretary to Government Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department; and Visalakshi Ramasamy, Founder of M. Rm. Rm. Cultural Foundation.

🗓️: 21st - 30th August, 2026

📍: Kadambari Gallery

Step into the bold visual language of Chettiar heritage.

Onam Ashamsakal! Explore the rich traditions of northern Kerala through Thiraiboodan Kali, a lesser known traditional fo...
19/08/2026

Onam Ashamsakal!

Explore the rich traditions of northern Kerala through Thiraiboodan Kali, a lesser known traditional folk performance rooted in temple festivals and worship of village deities.

Join Rupa for a transformative session and experience the power of calming Yin yoga to release, restore and reconnect wi...
18/08/2026

Join Rupa for a transformative session and experience the power of calming Yin yoga to release, restore and reconnect with yourself. Conscious breathing to release stress, sound to heal and soothe.

Yin yoga is a slow paced yoga where we hold a posture for a 2 to 5 minutes using props. This practice targets deep connective tissue, fascia and joints, the places where we store stress and stuck energy.

Sound Bath follows in savasana. As you rest, sound from different instruments will gently wash over you. The vibration helps quiet the thinking mind and drop you into a deeper state of rest.

Yin opens up the body. Sound calms the nervous system.
You will leave feeling spacious in your joints and quiet in your head.

ALL LEVELS WELCOME

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED

Perfect if you are feeling tired, stiff in your joints, have lower back pain or are dealing with insomnia.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

DM to BOOK YOUR SPOTS

Address

East Coast Road, Muttukadu, Chinglepet District – 600 118
Chennai
603112

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 7pm
Sunday 10am - 7pm

Telephone

+919841422149

Website

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