Rasanai is set to spotlight the after-dark food soul of Madurai with Thoonga Nagaram, a Madurai Street Food Festival running from January 14 to 25, 2026. Inspired by the city’s iconic night markets and its reputation as Tamil Nadu’s culinary capital, the festival draws its name from Madurai’s popular identity as “The City That Never Sleeps.”

Deeply rooted in hyper-local flavours, Thoonga Nagaram goes beyond a generic Tamil food showcase to focus exclusively on Madurai’s street and kadai-style cooking traditions. The menu reflects food cultures shaped by generations of small vendors, family-run kitchens, and ritual-led cooking practices found in areas like Naalangadi, Allangadi, Simmakkal, and Thallakulam, where food and community thrive late into the night.

Signature dishes include Saurashtra Mullu Murungai Vadai and Power Kadai Kaadi Chops, alongside Madurai’s celebrated non-vegetarian classics such as Ayirai Meen Kozhambu paired with Mallipoo Idly and Konar Kadai Gola Urundai. These dishes highlight the city’s bold, spice-forward palate and strong connection to local ingredients.

Mallipoo Idly, named after Madurai’s famed jasmine flowers, stands out for its airy texture achieved through careful fermentation. When served with Ayirai Meen Kozhambu, made using the tiny spiny loach fish from the Vaigai river system, the combination represents a rare and seasonal Madurai delicacy once common in local homes.

The festival also revisits Madurai’s legendary snack culture with Aadhikalathu Mittai Halwa served alongside Madurai Mixture and Urulai Pottalam, inspired by the 120-year-old Aadhikalathu Original Nei Mittai Kadai near the West Gopuram. Completing the line-up is Madurai Ennai Sukka paired with Virudhunagar Poricha Parotta, presented in a street-style wrap that brings together neighbouring culinary traditions.

With Thoonga Nagaram, Rasanai invites diners in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Kochi to experience Madurai not just as a destination, but as a living food culture where recipes are fiercely local and the streets stay awake long after sunset.