Street Name Boards

The size, material and colour of the street name boards of Madras have undergone several metamorphoses over the decades. The latest is the blue fibre(?) boards on steel pillars with white lettering, replacing the yellow concrete with black lettering.

Bright blue replaces the fading yellow.

It was interesting to see the old wall paintings with curious  props on the narrow Nalla Thambi Street in Triplicane.

Many a time it is difficult to a locate a particular numbered street in an area like Anna Nagar or Indira Nagar as the numbering of street defy any logic.

One misses the old area maps (with ‘You are Here’markers) in the planned neighbourhoods like CIT colony, Gandhinagar etc.

Southern End

Middle of the street

Northern End

Adapting to change

Chaos and danger in the name of development

This lady in a narrow lane in Triplicane seems to be coping grudgingly with all the changes around her in the name of development.

What is surprising is the scant attention given to safety.

Did you notice man having a  shave nonchalantly in the upper floor very near the edge?

Taken  during The Chennai Photowalk : Walk #98

Also, see the post ‘Whither Safety?’

Brotherly Love

Brotherly affection during temple festival

Last Sunday, it was Garuda Sevai at the Parthasarathy Temple. While the main utasva moorhty was being taken around the streets, boys from the surrounding area decorate idols from their homes and take them round behind the main procession. The enthusiasm of the boys, all decked in the traditional attire and caste marks, was infectious. Here an older boy is taking care of a younger one.

Two women: two directions

Two women

Two women crossing each other on a street in Triplicane . Different directions, different dresses, different duties. …and different demeanours.

Master grocer

Grocer

I am always attracted by small owner-managed stores dotting the streets. I was really impressed by this grocer on Singarachari street, Triplicane lording over his empire and at the same time  waiting for the temple procession to pass his shop.

Evening siesta

Siesta on a three-wheeler cart

In yesterday’s post,we saw an affluent man itching to have exercise on his son’s bicycle. Contrast this with this man outside the Lighthouse MRTS station having a siesta on his three-wheeler cart after a hard morning .This was late evening and the Chennai Photo Biennale was on in the station above – points which  were of no concern for this tired soul.

Remembering Childhood

Remembering younger days

Was this man remembering his childhood days when waiting for his son or was he sneaking a ride when his son wasn’t around?

The Besant Nagar beach is the best place for cycling on a vehicle free Sunday morning.

 

Ashtabandhanam

Ashtabandhana mixture being got ready

Kumbabhishekam, Samprokshanam, Ashtabandhanam, Jeernodhaaranam are all phrases we hear about the spiritual rejuvenation of Hindu temples periodically-usually once in 12 years.

Ashtabandhanam is the process of reinstalling the murtis with the ashtabandhana mixture. This is a combination of eight or more ingredients, including, wood lac (arakku) , red ochre (kaavi), limestone, rosin, beeswax, and butter.

The picture shows the pounding (in ‘ural’ with ‘ulakkai’) and blending of the ingredients at Sree Kapaliswarara temple a day before the Kumbabhishekam. You can see the finished mixture and dollops of butter on the floor and the semi-finished mixture in the ural.

 

Siva lingam

Graphic sivalingam formed by devotees

Kapleeswarar temple was buzzing with the preparations for the Kumbabhishekam the next day.The sanctums were closed and all the activities were in the prakaarams. A random shot produced this image of a string of flowers and the T shirt stripes forming a graphic shivalingam and pedestal.

 

 

Many Faces of Madras

Man in Broadway

This man was sitting in a narrow street off Broadway. He seemed to be totally indifferent to the world and his expression did not change when we took his pictures.