FOOD

Indian cuisine is very diverse and is a result of India's diverse population. Over the centuries, each new wave of settlers brought with them their own culinary practices which, with time, blended into the Indian cuisine as it is known today. Besides settlers from outside, Indian cuisine has been influenced by environmental, social, religious and political factors from within. Most Indian cuisines are related by significant usage of spices, and by the use of a larger variety of vegetables than most other culinary traditions. Within these recognizable similarities, there is an enormous variety of local styles.

Typically, North Indian meals consist of chapatis or rotis and rice as staples, eaten with a wide variety of side dishes like dals, curries, yoghurt, chutney and achars. South Indian dishes are mostly rice-based, sambhar, rasam and curries being important side dishes. Coconut is an important ingredient in most South Indian food.

Besides the main dishes, various snacks are widely popular in Indian cuisine, such as samosa and vada. Among drinks, tea enjoys heavy popularity, while coffee is mostly popular in South India. Nimbu pani (lemonade), lassi, and coconut milk are also popular, while India also has many indigenous alcoholic beverages like Fenny and Indian beer.

Several customs are associated with the way in which food is consumed. Traditionally, meals are eaten while sitting on the floor or on very low stools, eating with the fingers of the right hand.

CULTURE

Chennai is a culturally vibrant city, where traditional arts flourish. You can find a school of dance and music in almost every neighbourhood of the city. The Tamil culture of hospitality is known the world over. Even in the humblest of homes, a visitor will be welcomed and offered a simple meal or snack. The customs of the city are closely linked with religion and hence present a picture of colourful contrasts. One will find a group of people auspicious and acceptable to them while another group would consider them totally out of place and inappropriate.

Rising early and incorporating religious rites into the day-to-day living is not unusual. The doorsteps are decorated with kolam-patterns made from rice powder or white stone powder for decorative as well as religious purposes. Friday evenings are normally reserved for visits to the temples. It is customary to celebrate the various religious festivals with the accompaniment of pomp and show. It is the city has its own easy going pace, that embodies it with a sense of tranquillity. The cost of living being amongst the lowest in the country, one can fulfil one's needs within on an economical budget. In Chennai, people have both the time and inclination to help strangers; so don’t be too surprised if you are actually escorted to your destination, the next time you ask for directions. Neighbourhood friendships thrive with mutual give and take policy. People show such a lively curiosity about each other that it is impossible for one to live on one's own, in isolation, as it were. No big city blues here!