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Tamils

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A joyful celebration of Pongal, a harvest festival in Tamil Nadu, featuring traditional food and cultural activities.

Tamils are a big group of people who mainly live in southern India and Sri Lanka. They speak the Tamil language, one of the oldest languages in the world. Today, most Tamils live in a place called Tamil Nadu in India and also in a small area called Puducherry.

For thousands of years, Tamils have lived in parts of India and Sri Lanka. They have a very rich history with beautiful art, music, and literature. Tamil culture includes special kinds of dancing, singing, and even fighting styles like Silambam, which uses a long bamboo stick.

Tamil culture is full of colorful traditions. Most Tamils practice Hinduism, and many worship a god named Murugan, who is very special to them. They also enjoy many festivals like Pongal, which celebrates the harvest, and Puthandu, the Tamil New Year.

Tamils are also known for their tasty food. Rice is a big part of their meals, often served with tasty side dishes. They also love to celebrate sports, with many enjoying cricket and traditional games like Kabaddi.

Tamils have made important contributions to the world in many areas, including arts, science, and sports. Their history and culture continue to thrive in many countries around the world.

Images

Map showing where Tamil is spoken in India and Sri Lanka (1981).
A map showing the regions of South India and Tamil-speaking areas during the ancient Sangam period.
Ancient grey pottery with intricate engravings from the 1st Century CE, discovered in Virampatnam, Arikamedu.
An ancient map showing trade routes and locations from the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, a 1st century CE document.
Ancient stone temples known as the Pancha Rathas in Mahabalipuram, India.
Historical map showing the extent of the Pandya Kingdom in south India between the 12th and 14th centuries.
Historic Fort St. George in Chennai, an important landmark from the colonial era.
A 12th-century stone sculpture representing Maharishi Agastya, a revered sage from ancient India, displayed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
The tall tower of the Srivilliputtur Andal Temple, a beautiful example of ancient Indian architecture.
Portrait of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, an important historical figure from India, taken in 1919.
Portrait of Subramanya Bharathi, a celebrated Tamil poet and freedom fighter from India.

Related articles

Sri Lanka
Tamil Nadu
Hinduism

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Tamils, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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