Now in its 31st year, this Vinayakar Chaturthi festival continues a tradition that traces back to Lokmanya Tilak’s use of public Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations during the freedom struggle to bring communities together. Hindu Munnani’s founder-leader, Ra. Kobalan, revived and expanded that tradition over five decades, installing Vinayakar idols and organizing public celebrations street by street. This year’s festival also marks his birth centenary.
Organized by Kalidass Venugopal for the West Saidapet area, the festival runs for a full week with a different theme, cultural program, and set of special guests each day.
Supported by VKMR Finance and FB Cakes.
Monday
Children's Day
- 4:00 PMPainting competition
- 6:00 PMVillu Paatu by Thenkasi Selvi M. Madhavi
Special Guests
Nayinar Nagendhiran
Ex-MLA; Tamil Nadu State President, BJP
Tamilisai Soundararajan
Former Governor of Puducherry & Telangana
G.K. Vasan
Ex-MP; President, Tamil Manila Congress
Premalatha Vijayakanth
MLA; General Secretary, DMDK; MLA, Virudhachalam
A.C. Shanmugam
Ex-MP, Ex-MLA; Chairman, Dr. MGR Educational & Research Institute
Tuesday
World Unity Day
- 6:00 PMBhakti songs by Sastha Dasan (of Bhakti Mamani TV fame)
Special Guests
Pari Vendhar
Ex-MP; Chancellor, SRM University
Nase. Ramachandran
Chancellor, AMET University
M. Arul Prakasam
MLA, Saidapet constituency; South Chennai District Secretary, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam
Airport Murthy
Head, Puratchi Thalapathy
P. Subramani
Wednesday
Anti-Addiction Day
- 6:00 PMBhakti songs by the Aruna & Akila Sisters
Special Guests
T.T.V. Dhinakaran
Ex-MLA; General Secretary, AMMK
H. Raja
Ex-MLA; National Executive Committee Member, BJP
S.R. Sekar
State Treasurer, Tamil Nadu BJP
S.S. Balaji
Ex-MLA; State Treasurer, VCK
Jashri K. Ganesh
Chancellor, Vels University
Thursday
Brotherhood Day
- 6:00 PMDevotional light-music festival by playback singer, Super Singer fame Muthu Sirpi
Special Guests
L. Murugan
Ex-MP; Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Information Technology
Agri S. Krishnamurthy
MLA, Kalasapakkam constituency & Assembly Whip; South Thiruvannamalai District Secretary, AIADMK
Aandaal P. Sokkalingam
North Tamil Nadu President, Vishwa Hindu Parishad
Devaraj
Head, Velankanni Educational Groups
Shelvi
Astrologer
Friday
Women's Day
- 6:00 PMThiruvilakku Pooja, guided by Swami Vinayamirtha
- 8:00 PM"Arjunan Thapasu" street theatre, presented by Senji Parthiban
Special Guests
Swami Vinayamirtha
Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Chennai
Pon. Radhakrishnan
Ex-MP; former Union Minister of State
Soumya Anbumani
MLA, Dharmapuri constituency
Sai Prakash Leomuthu
Chairman, Sairam Educational Group
T.K. Rajendran
Former Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu
Saturday
Environment Day
- 4:00 PMFelicitation of sanitation workers
- 8:00 PM"Karna Moksham" street theatre, presented by Senji Parthiban
Special Guests
Kesava Vinayakan
South India In-charge, Samudaya Nallinaikkam, RSS
K. Bhaktavatsalam
South India Organizer, Hindu Munnani
M. Mahesh Kumar
MC; Deputy Mayor, Greater Chennai Corporation
Mala
Founder, Thakur Educational Groups
Manikandan
Secretary, Thakur Educational Groups
M. Krishnamurthy
MC; 10th Zone Ward Chairman; West Saidai Area Secretary, DMK
M. Sridharan
Advocate, MC; General Council Member, DMK
S. Gunasekaran
Assembly President, Chennai South District DMK
C.K. Perumal
State General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee
Sunday
Visarjanam (Immersion)
- 10:00 AMProcession flagged off by M. Venkatesan
Special Guests
M. Venkatesan
All India Secretary, BJP