As Chennai bakes under an unforgiving sun, residents are adapting through a blend of time-tested traditions and modern responses — staying hydrated, tweaking food habits, dressing for comfort, cutting their hair short, and heading for the hills.
Leading the list of coping strategies is a return to traditional summer foods. “Chennai is extremely humid, and residents are instinctively drinking more fluids,” says Shiny Surendran, sports nutritionist and founder of the Art of Eating clinic. “Juices, cucumber and watermelon, pazhaya kanji, and koozhu are popular even among the upper-income groups now. Traditional coolers such as nannari sarbath, chia and sabja seeds, and almond resin are back in vogue — not just for hydration but also as natural weight-loss fillers.”
The hospitality industry is also embracing the seasonal shift. Vikram Cotah, chairperson of the tourism panel at CII southern regional council, says hotel buffets are undergoing a summer makeover. “We’ve taken a slight detour from the usual spicy fare. Raagi koozhu, curd rice, and lime-mint coolers are in. Seasonal fruit salads are replacing deep-fried starters — it’s a conscious move towards comfort and wellness.”
Chennaites are also dressing for the weather. “Now, many — especially middle-aged men and women — are opting for cotton and linen shirts, T-shirts and pants,” says Hitesh, a senior stylist in the city. “Light fabrics, lighter colours, and close-cropped hair are in.”
With schools shut, summer camps and swimming classes, are seeing a surge in participation. “Everyone wants in,” says T. Chandrasekaran, secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Aquatic Association. “Children above six are signing up in large numbers, and even those under six are eager to join. While we don’t recommend formal training for that age, public interest is surging.”
State-run SDAT pools at Velachery, Shenoy Nagar, and Anna Nagar are witnessing record footfalls. “These camps aren’t just recreational,” said Chandrasekaran. “They’re helping us spot young talent that can feed into the larger sports ecosystem.” Private pools are also seeing high demand, as families embrace swimming not just as a skill, but as a healthy summer alternative to gadget time.
Among adults, most runners prefer to start their runs early in the morning to avoid peak heat and harsh sunlight. “There are some who run or cycle at night too,” said Raja, a city-based running coach.
Meanwhile, the govt is moving to protect outdoor workers from the worst of the heat. Pon Kumar, chairman of the Tamil Nadu Construction Workers Welfare Board (TNCWWB), said he has requested chief minister M K Stalin to reiterate the summer work timing advisory announced last year. “Last year, the chief minister directed that construction work be halted at 11 am and resumed only after 3 pm to protect workers from heatstroke. We expect a similar announcement this year,” said Ponkumar. “We’ve also requested that construction sites ensure hydration stations, provide nutritious meals, and allocate shaded resting areas.”
The police department has also adopted its summer protocol to protect personnel who have to be out in the sun. In March, city police commissioner A Arun distributed pith hats to help officers shield themselves from the sun. “We’ve also started providing buttermilk twice a day and distributed sunglasses to field staff,” said a senior police officer.
And the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) plans to install fans in 3,000 buses and has set up buttermilk stalls at depots for crew.