December 2025

Karthigai Deepam Festival

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Karthigai Deepam is a Tamil festival associated with the Tiruvannamalai Mahadeepam, where lamps are lit in homes and temples to commemorate the appearance of Lord Shiva in the form of a torch to Brahma and Tirumal. In Ambattur, people also celebrate this divine festival of light by lighting lamps, decorating homes, and worshipping in temples. In Ambattur areas, on Deepam day, special pujas, lighting of lamps, and celebrations with family are held in local temples and homes.

Navaratri Festival

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Ambattur, as in the rest of Tamil Nadu, Navaratri is celebrated primarily with Golu doll displays, temple festivities (especially at the Varahi Amman Temple), and cultural events like Dandiya nights. The festival focuses on worshipping the goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati over nine nights.Key Celebrations and Traditions in AmbatturGolu Displays: A central part of the celebration is setting up ‘Golu’, a display of various dolls and figurines of gods, goddesses, and everyday life, in homes and public spaces. You can find Golu doll dealers in Ambattur and the surrounding areas.Varahi Amman Temple: This temple in Ambattur is a significant site for worship during Navaratri (known as the Aadi Month festival in this context, referring to a different Navaratri period). Devotees offer special rice varieties to the goddess during the festival.Cultural Events: Local organizations, such as the Rotary Club of Ambattur, host large cultural events like “Dandiya Darbar,” which feature traditional music and dance, reflecting a blend of South Indian and North Indian Navaratri traditions.Ashrams and Pujas: Religious institutions like the Sri Yohamaya Bhuvaneswari Peetam in Kallikuppam (near Ambattur) conduct elaborate pujas, homams (fire rituals), and other ceremonies throughout the nine days.Community Gatherings: The festival is a time for community engagement, with event organizers in Ambattur and Chennai planning various functions.Culinary Delights: Special Navaratri-friendly meals, often without onion or garlic and using specific fasting spices, are available from local food services.

Udhayanidhi Stalin

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Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development, is involved in various initiatives to help citizens through government schemes and departmental activities. His efforts include:Welfare Assistance and Social SchemesNight Shelters: Inaugurated a new night shelter for homeless people, especially the gypsy community, near Marina Beach, providing food and welfare assistance to beneficiaries.Financial Aid: Distributed substantial welfare assistance, totaling hundreds of crores of rupees, to thousands of beneficiaries under various government schemes in different districts.Self-Help Groups (SHGs): Actively supports women’s SHGs by facilitating massive loan amounts (over ₹1.05 lakh crore in four years statewide) and providing market access for their products through initiatives like “Mathi Angadi” and food festivals.Education and Student Support:Highlighted the success of the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme, which benefits over 22 lakh children daily.Promotes the “Pudhumai Penn” program, offering monthly financial aid to girl students for higher education.Launched skill and placement centers under the “Naan Mudhalvan” scheme, which has aided over 30 lakh students and helped 2 lakh find jobs.Distributed free bicycles to students and financial aid to an aspiring medical student.Sports Development:As the Sports Minister, he has distributed financial aid to sportspersons participating in international events through the Tamil Nadu Champions Trust and Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).Launched the Athlete Management System and emphasized the importance of physical education in schools.

Porunai Archaeological Museum

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he huge crowd that thronged the ‘Porunai Archaeological Museum’, which was opened to the visitors on Tuesday after it was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin last Saturday, were thrilled to see the ancient Tamil civilisation and the attractively showcased artefacts.ulator boat ride at the Porunai Archaeological Museum in Tirunelveli on December 23, 2025. Photo: Special Arrangement The huge crowd that thronged the ‘Porunai Archaeological Museum’, which was opened to the visitors on Tuesday after it was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin last Saturday, were thrilled to see the ancient Tamil civilisation and the attractively showcased artefacts. Even though the museum was opened at 10 a.m., the crowd started gathering at 9.30 a.m. itself and the 17-minute-long audio – visual show at the museum’s mini theatre set the right tone before getting immersed into the finer details of the museum, like iron smelting interactive board, pearl fishery etc.

Uzhavar Sandhai (Farmers’ Market)

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The farmers’ market in Ambattur has been a recurring topic in the news. It reopened in June 2022 after a decade-long hiatus to provide a direct platform for farmers to sell produce. However, there have been ongoing concerns raised by residents and traders regarding the need for better basic facilities, such as proper shelters, clean flooring, water taps, and toilets.

fishermen arrests

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday (December 23, 2025) wrote to Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging him to utilise appropriate diplomatic channels to convene a Joint Working Group meeting and hold fishermen-level talks to arrive at a permanent solution to the issues faced by Tamil Nadu’s fishermen.In his letter, Mr. Stalin drew Mr. Jaishankar’s attention to the arrest of 12 fishermen from Rameswaram and the seizure of their mechanised boat by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday. “The continued arrest of our fishermen and the seizure of their boats by the Sri Lankan Navy have severely impacted their livelihoods and caused immense hardship and distress among the coastal fishing communities of Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Stalin said.

Power of Law

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an Irular tribal couple in Tamil Nadu, where advocate (now retired Justice) K. Chandru fought for justice after Rajakannu died in police custody, highlighting caste discrimination, police brutality, and human rights violations, with the story inspiring the movie about their fight for truth against powerful forces, a battle against deep-seated societal bias.The Incident (1993): In Cuddalore district, Rajakannu, a member of the Irular tribe (a marginalized community), was falsely accused of theft by a local police constable.Custodial Death: Rajakannu was taken into custody, tortured, and later died, with police attempting to cover it up by moving his body and claiming he escaped.The Fight for Justice: His wife, Sengani (Parvathy in real life), with the support of human rights lawyer K. Chandru, fought a long legal battle for justice, filing a Habeas Corpus petition to find her husband.Justice Chandru’s Role: Retired Justice K. Chandru, a known advocate for the underprivileged, took up the case pro bono, using the legal system to challenge police brutality and caste prejudice.Outcome: After years of struggle, the court eventually ruled in their favor, exposing the police’s actions and leading to justice for the family, with the state eventually granting land to Sengani.This video features the real-life

Tamil Nadu removed from state buses, triggers protest

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The Tamil Nadu Transport Department recently removed the words “Tamil Nadu” from signage on many government-operated buses, leaving only generic labels like “State Transport Corporation.” This change has sparked widespread protests across the state by political parties, labour unions and local groups who see the omission as an affront to state identity. Demonstrations have taken place in places such as Kancheepuram, Hosur, Salem and Thoothukudi, where protesters even affixed “Tamil Nadu” stickers back onto the buses. Organisers argue that other states’ buses continue to display their names prominently, so Tamil Nadu should too. Government officials say the practice was introduced without any intent to remove the state’s name and that the matter will be reviewed, but the controversy continues to fuel public debate and local protests.

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