By Sanjana Ray

Copyright gqindia

Launched around 2019 by Meenakshi Meyyappan, owner of mansion-turned-heritage hotel The Bangala, the Chettinad Heritage Festival has steadily drawn global attention to Chettinad’s distinct cultural identity, showcasing the region’s artisans, musicians, and culinary traditions. Over five days, the storied Nattukottai Chettiar mansions — architectural marvels in their own right — open their courtyards to the public. Temples become venues for classical performances, chefs present time-honoured recipes, artisans demonstrate traditional techniques, and curated heritage walks offer a deeper understanding of the area’s chequered past.
The festival is presented by the Chettinad Heritage and Cultural Trust in collaboration with a network of heritage hotels, including The Bangala – Karaikudi, Chidambara Vilas – Kadiapatti, Visalam CGH Earth, The Lotus Palace, Chettinadu Mansion, Chettinadu Court – Kanadukathan, and Saratha Vilas – Kothamangalam. The fourth edition took place from September 12 to 16, 2025, with the opening ceremony at Chidambara Vilas in Pudukkottai.
A grand celebration that’s also a major tourist draw, the festival offers a lens into the everyday legacy of Chettinad, where design, craft, food, and ritual continue to shape a way of life. It captures a region not frozen in time, but rooted in it… and still evolving.
Chettinad Heritage Festival 2025: Vivek Karunakaran’s IDAM collection, mansion tours, finger-licking feasts & other highlights

Vivek Karunakaran’s latest collection IDAM
This year’s festival opened with a striking showcase by designer Vivek Karunakaran, who debuted his latest collection, IDAM — a personal ode to the textures of his city, the language of his people, and the evolving fluidity of tradition.
Set against the colonnades of Kalyankottagai, the show began with a performance by model and presenter Sahithya Jaganathan. Draped in an ecru hand-embroidered organza sari, she recited I Am Idam, setting the tone for a runway experience that was both intimate and expansive. Carnatic vocalist Sandeep Narayan followed, dressed in a veshti co-ord with angavastram, his vocals layered over Bjorn Surrao’s ambient soundscape.
What unfolded next was a deliberate progression: bold red-and-white sets gave way to darker hues, metallic finishes, and glittering bijoux. Karunakaran’s signature silhouettes — veshtis paired with bandhgalas, sharp waistcoats over flowing skirts, and gender-fluid ensembles — made a definitive statement. A monochrome Madras check reimagined in a handwoven tux-and-veshti combo was a particular standout.
The designer collaborated with heirloom jewellery brand VBJ Since 1900 to unveil a line of edgy ear cuffs, sculptural neckpieces, statement earrings and ornate brooches meticulously crafted in gold, gemstones, and diamonds — all of which elevated the looks on the runway.
The festival also marked the launch of ADAYALAM, a travelling cultural platform conceived and curated by Karunakaran. Hosted at Chidambara Vilas, the inaugural edition transformed the heritage space into an immersive celebration of craft, music, art, and food — an extension of his vision to go beyond fashion and shape a broader, more rooted creative conversation.
Highlights of Chettinad Heritage Festival 2025
Aside from Karunakaran’s powerful display, the highlights of the Chettinad Heritage Festival 2025 included a host of guided mansion tours, sampling traditional Chettinad cuisine that’s made a global mark, demonstrations of Athangudi tiles and Kandangi cotton sarees, musical performances of Carnatic music and Bharatnatyam, floral decorations, and discussions with local historians and artisans, all aimed at preserving the region’s unique cultural heritage. The festival also showcased the architecture of the historic Chettiar mansions that were built by the illustrious Chettiar merchant community from the middle of the 19th century to the 1950s.