Contemporary Challenges to the Survival of Folk Culture In Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Folk culture constitutes the living heritage of Tamil Nadu, deeply rooted in the everyday lives, beliefs, rituals, and artistic expressions of its people. Folk songs, dances, rituals, oral narratives, traditional medicine, crafts, and village customs have historically functioned as carriers of collective memory and cultural identity. However, in contemporary Tamil Nadu, folk culture faces serious challenges due to rapid urbanization, industrialization, globalization, digital media influence, and socio-economic transformations. This study examines the major challenges affecting the survival of folk culture in Tamil Nadu and analyzes how traditional practices are being marginalized, transformed, or commercialized in modern contexts. Using qualitative and interpretative methods, the research highlights the declining transmission of folk knowledge, changing lifestyles, loss of patronage, and weakening of community-based cultural systems. The study argues that despite these challenges, folk culture continues to adapt and survive through cultural resilience, institutional support, and conscious preservation efforts. The paper emphasizes the urgent need for documentation, policy intervention, and community participation to sustain Tamil Nadu’s folk cultural heritage.