Chennai which boasts of having a distant culture is regarded as the gateway to south Indian culture. Though the city has grown in to a cosmopolitan it has not distanced itself from its rich culture and tradition. Rather it became the patron of its traditional music, dance and other art forms. Chennai is known for its warm hospitality. People of Chennai are seen showering hospitality on their guests who in turn are seen flattered. Early rising and doing religious rites is the common for the people of Chennai. People usually visit the temples on Friday.
Pongal, the most important festival of Chennai is celebrated with great fervor along with whole of south India. Chennai also celebrates other festival like Deepawali, Eid etc. When it comes to dressing Chennai still prefers to their traditional attires. Young girls are seen wearing the half sari of Pavada. Definition of fashions is quite different here. If someone wears Salwar-Kamieez or jeans she or he is called fashionable.

Chennai is very passionate about its traditional forms of dance and music. Come December and Chennai host the five week long music festival. The extravaganza of music and dance show is one of the world’s largest cultural events. Chennai is famous for its classical dance, the Bharatanatyam which also enjoys the status of official dance of Tamil Nadu.

Over the years the city of Chennai has grown in to cosmopolitan metropolis with people of different faiths and different region of the country coming in large number to live here. Tamil is the native language of the city but use of English language has been increased for the past some years.