LEISURE Citizen Matters, Chennai

Beat your lockdown blues with balcony birding

August 4, 2020 Bhavani Prabhakar

Confined during the lockdown, bird watchers in Chennai have not been able to camp out. But they have been pursuing their passion from their terraces and balconies. You can too!

Let’s go to Spring Potato beach; sorry, we mean Besant Nagar beach

December 8, 2019 Mahesh V

Besant Nagar beach is unrecognisable to old timers, thanks to over a hundred Spring Potato shops. What do they sell? Do they get any customers? Don’t they need permission to operate in a public space? What’s it doing to the beach? Many questions, few answers..

Parrots in Chennai? This man knows thousands of them…

November 14, 2019 Lata Ramaseshan

Meet the indefatigable Sekar, the birdman of Chennai, who feeds thousands of parrots on his rooftop. The birds keep their appointment with him every single day!

This year, let’s celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in Chennai the green way

August 30, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Rooting for clay idols? We have an even better suggestion. Looking for green decor ideas? Or wondering how to minimise the use of disposables? It’s all here. As Ganesh Chaturthi approaches, here’s your complete guide to eco-friendly celebrations.

Celebrating the life and times of the man who knew infinity

August 28, 2019 Balakumar M

A peek inside the Ramanujan Museum, which houses intriguing artefacts and memorabilia from the life of one of the world’s most renowned mathematicians.

Celebrating Madras Day with fascinating facts about the city

August 27, 2019 R Sundararaman

Did you know Chennai had freezing temperatures in the summer of 1815 because of weather changes caused by a volcanic eruption in a distant land? A special quiz as part of continuing Madras week celebrations in Chennai throws up remarkable facts and trivia about the city.

Why celebrate Chennai?

August 12, 2019 V Sriram

As Madras Week draws closer, historian V Sriram talks of the various reasons to celebrate the city.

Nagpur, Kolkata or Panruti — where do the veggies you cook everyday come from?

August 1, 2019 Sri Loganathan

Every vegetable has a fascinating journey before it reaches the Koyambedu market and from there to your kitchen. See what sellers have to say about where the different kinds and varieties are actually grown.

Soil to platter: Where do the fruits we eat in Chennai come from?

June 25, 2019 Sri Loganathan

Kiwi and Lichi for Chennaiites? Hear from the sellers at the famous Koyambedu fruit market to discover the journey of your favourite fruits.

Alex in Crazy Land: Tribute to a comic genius

June 14, 2019 Alexander Babu

Stand-up comic Alexander of Alex in Wonderland fame pens a touching tribute to Crazy Mohan, who served up laughter and inspiration to many over the years.

Enter the jungle: Where in this busy city would you find 150 species of birds?

April 12, 2019 Seetha Gopalakrishnan

The Guindy National Park is not just a critical green lung in the heart of Chennai, but also an excellent space to showcase urban forest conservation. Let this photoessay take you on a visual stroll through the park with its marvellous display of flora and fauna.