What we do
Our calendar follows the Tamil year. Members receive the exact dates, venue and sign-up details by email and WhatsApp before each event.
Signature programs
The harvest festival opens our year. Every January we set up the Pongal pot the traditional way — sugarcane, brass lamps and marigold garlands — and wait together for it to boil over before sitting down to a shared meal.
For many of our children it is their first Tamil festival, and for families new to Tallahassee it is often the first time they meet the rest of the Mandram.
The largest gathering of our year and the one people plan their spring around. The day begins with the whole Mandram arriving at the park — a potluck lunch laid out along the pavilion tables, children running between the oaks, and elders catching up under the Spanish moss.
The afternoon belongs to the games: tug of war, running races, musical chairs and team events for every age group. It closes with prize-giving, certificates for our Tamil school students, and recognition for the volunteer teachers who taught them.
TTM Tamil Palli teaches children to speak, read and write Tamil. It runs as a sub-committee of the Mandram and is open to the children of members and non-members alike — with the same curriculum and the same fees for everyone.
Weekly classes follow the Leon County school calendar and can be held in person or online, with special programmes during the summer and winter holidays. Our teachers shape the curriculum together with the Executive Committee, and each year the Mandram honours them for the difference they make.
Every spring, TTM Spring Sports brings the Mandram’s chess players to the board for a friendly tournament — a quieter contest of strategy before the summer season gets underway.
Every year from August to October, in the run-up to Deepavali, the Mandram runs a summer sports season with events and tournaments for men, women, youth and children.
It is the stretch of the year when members who only see each other at festivals end up on the same team every weekend — and the friendly rivalries carry straight through to the Deepavali stage.
Summer Sports 2026 is proudly supported by Swagat Grocers, SGS Technologie, Prime Time Addaaa, Ace InfoTech and our patron sponsors. Meet our sponsors
Cricket finals · Saturday, October 17. Semi-finals at 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM, championship final at 7:00 PM. See the fixtures
An evening of lights, new clothes and far too many sweets. Deepavali is our most formal celebration — a full cultural programme of classical and film dance, music, drama and speeches performed by members of every age.
It is also the evening we most often welcome friends from outside the Tamil community: colleagues, neighbours and university faculty who want to see what the fuss is about. They are very welcome.
Hall of champions
Congratulations to every player who took to the court. Here are the champions of our summer sports seasons.
Results will be posted here after the final.
The Mandram year
Exact dates move with the Tamil calendar and with venue availability. Members are always notified first.
The harvest festival — pongal cooked on the day, kolam competitions, and a shared vegetarian lunch to start the year.
Held in or around March. The Executive Committee appoints a three-member Elections sub-committee, which receives nominations and conducts the election.
Our spring chess tournament.
Our largest gathering: a full day of games, potluck, cultural programme and prize-giving at a local park.
An informal afternoon by the lake for families and new arrivals, with no programme and no schedule.
Classes start with the Leon County school year. Enrolment is open to the children of members and non-members alike.
A season of events and tournaments for men, women, youth and kids, running up to Deepavali.
Our formal evening celebration with a full cultural programme and dinner.
Every dues-paying member is invited. The General Body meets at least once a year in Tallahassee, and admission is free.
Members hear about every event first, with venue details and sign-up links straight to their inbox and WhatsApp.
