A drive up to Mamallapuram, Kokkilamedu Kuppam, Airplane & ECR

I had a drive up to Mamallapuram on Sunday evening after long time or past summer. I haven’t planned for a drive but decided to go out to beach in the evening and my cousin on his own plan of dropping his grandmother at her house in Mamallapuram enriched my idea of going out. I joined my cousin family, following their interest to accompany me during the ride and living adjacent to ECR (east coast road) that begins at Thiruvanmyuir Bus Depot; and touching the road after 3 month (due to femur fracture)  put me into lot of surprise the changes brought alongside the road. Number of showrooms had emerged either sides of the road, like mushrooms emerging after a brief rain; many villas have also take place on the ECR towards Mamallapuram.

(click images to enlarge)

Since fracture I couldn't take seat into our SUV due to its height, so we took our uncle’s car and made a pleasant drive into ECR… and I wasn't comfort with my camera to take pictures using this car but my cousin sis took few pictures for me. After dropping my cousin’s granny at her home, we took a brief drive around the Mamallapuram which we sometime used to do while visiting the town. We drew beyond the town and went up to the rear gate of Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station and checked a beach beside a fishing village. Kokkilamedu Kuppam (village) is one of tsunami affected area where NGOs had built number of identical house to the villagers residing very close to shore. A big wave is enough to touch or test their houses and there were number of boats resting on the shore after week-long fishing.

The coconut palms at the distance of waves kissing were pleasing to check and the cool breeze rushing from the sea makes cold embraces. The houses in the village were all built neatly with narrow lanes in-between   and each house is left with concrete benches, outside, to sit and relax in evening and there were also few benches facing the sea which I am sure will make it feel pleasure sitting and watching the beach. The village was also laid with concrete roads and interestingly there are three graveyards for this village which I guess must be distinguished regarding their caste and community. Nice the road leads up to seashore to make it possible getting close to it but the environment wasn't clean to spent there more time.

We also come across a big airplane near Five Rathas, which I still have no idea how it should have brought there and why... but each one has different ideas about it and some says there’s a hotel coming up inside the plane or at the premises the plane is parked. I think it must have brought there to support the marine heritage museum that going to exists there soon and a submarine is also on the way to lay there which right now stable at Karaikal port. I still can’t believe how they brought the plane there, because the roads weren't wide enough leading to this place and even if they depart the wings and tail, how comes the big body. But I am excited seeing a plane near!

Surprising there wasn't much crowd at Mamallapuram (a UNESCO World Heritage Site of sculptures) being a Sunday and the roads were also unusually less crowd of vehicles and perhaps, absence of many buses on that day could be a reason for the shortage of crowd. We find number of Great Egrets on the Muttukadu backwater, but we couldn't stop and take pictures unlike before since vehicles passing constantly. The day ends with bright sunset for us and the sun was too fast that day rising down to pinkish red without giving a chance to capture in-between trees and buildings. The ECR has become much accident pone there days and we see more than couple of accident that day and I think the barriers kept along the road to control speed were also in a manner of creating accidents. I think the police need to consider alternate source to this to reduce the accidents and the way buses crossing those barriers where threatening!

Sunset @ Mamallapuram

During my last visit to Mamallapuram while coming back from Alambara ford in April, we got to capture some photos on a magnificent sunset. The sun rose down wonderfully across various foregrounds and one remarkable sight among them was the palm trees… which produced stunning silhouettes beside the golden reddish sky.

All these photos are shot from the backyard of the Mamallapuram town and across the Buckingham canal. I have captured sunset many a time off ECR while returning from Mamallapuram in evening, the beauty of round reddish sun never cease to amaze me and the way it play hide-and-seek with palm trees were enchanting.

You perhaps remember this Airplane; I posted sometime long back here which I find parked at Mamallapuram. It was confirmed that the Airplane is yet to convert as a flight restaurant and a prime hotel management has impounded this Boeing 737-200 near Five Rathas of Mamallapuram and opposite to Chariot Beach Resort gateway.  

Airplane enhanced in dramatic sunset and reddish hues

Sunday tale – a trip to Mamallapuram

I got an opportunity or I agreed to take a short distance ride on Sunday, after so long days of not coming out of home – for nearly seven months I held myself inside the home, other than looking out from the balcony. Glad we moved here, to our native house, a year and a half early to the pandemic starts so I have this benefit of watching from the balcony what is not possible in our previous house in backstreet with least activities on road. Lockdown days were quiet and pleasant here, but the relaxations lately made it very noisy. Back to Sunday, we accompanied our extended family for a temple visit in our ancestral town Mamallapuram, as per our family tradition, visiting this goddess temple has been made mandatory when a marriage is fixed.

The busy ECR on Sunday in the shadow of trees. This is part of road beyond Mamallapuram towards Pondicherry.

Yes, my brother’s engagement is fixed at the end of this month and so was this visit. I’m not a believer in god exist but I still accompany my family to temples as long it takes me out or traveling. We hit the east coast road (ECR) early morning but the ride wasn’t fun and comforting as well, as I had to wear a mask all the time even though I pull down to chin often it lacks freeness. I now understand how difficult it must be for those who go to work, wearing the mask all the time and while I couldn’t sit freely, I wonder how tough it is to do tasks with masks!

I couldn’t see any great changes on ECR other than closed amusement parks and tourism and entertaining hubs but the traffic was unusual for the time 6.30 in morning. I saw many cycle riders on the ECR, enjoying the cool morning weather, while quietly pedalling on the left side of the road unlike a lot on motorbikes vrooming and terrifying the other bike/car riders. We extended our ride another 25km from Mamallapuram to visit another family deity temple. Due to the pandemic and lockdown the government has restricted any rituals, so my family simply visited and worshiped the deities in the temples.   

One of the temple is located amid palm trees and farm lands, a km away from ECR main road

I sat in our SUV quite after a year gap, because only last October we left the car for interior tinkering and painting which was delivered only a week early to lockdown in March so I didn’t had any chance to travel or sit in the car. My trip to Amirthi Zoological Park (Vellore) in February happened in my uncle’s car and it’s the only trip I had this year where I drove for a 150 kms. My travel to Mamallapuram on Sunday was a half day trip and our breakfast was brought from a relative’s house there and we returned home by noon for lunch. It was good to travel even it was for a short distance of 70 km but for a travel enthusiastic this gives a bit joy and I hope the pandemic is over soon so that I travel every length.

44th Chess Olympiad (Signs)

The 44th Chess Olympiad is taking place at Mamallapuram, near Chennai, on the ECR. The chess tournament will be officially inaugurated tomorrow (28 July) in the presence of Prime Minister Mr. Modi and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. MK Stalin in Chennai Nehru Stadium. The preparations for the tournament began weeks ago, and the Tamil Nadu government is doing everything possible to ensure the success of the Chess Olympiad. 

The event is actually taking place in a village called Poonjeri on the outskirts of Mamallapuram; the government has erected a large stadium/auditorium to host the event, and all the participants from 187 countries have been housed in several resorts in Mamallapuram. To put it simply, the stretch from Chennai to Mamallapuram has been in a celebratory mood, and it is expected that many people will visit during the chess tournament or at least to view the preparations for the event. 

I, too, would like to see the event advertisements and the Thambi, The Knight, the official mascot of the 44th Chess Olympiad, who is touring Tamil Nadu, particularly Chennai. But, due to the unfinished rainwater storm project and health difficulties, I couldn't get out of the house. 

The Thambi, which meant "Little Brother," was designed to emphasize Tamil Nadu culture. The knight wears the traditional garb of dhoti and shirt, and perhaps the brown horse accentuates the South Indian tone (dusky or brown), and the mascot's general dressing style mimics the Chief Minister's, which may have derived from his appearance. 

The Napier Bridge, also known as the Iron Bridge, is another landmark in Chennai that has been completely painted as a chess board (to commemorate the 44th Chess Olympiad); it has also become a shooting spot, with people taking selfies and videos on the bridge.

I hope the event was a huge success and India won the battle so that history will remember it. Images courtesy Google.

Something to know about the Chess Olympiad: The first Olympiad was unofficial! An attempt was made to incorporate chess into the Olympic Games for the 1924 Games, yet, this failed due to difficulties distinguishing between amateur and professional players. The first unofficial Chess Olympiad took place in Paris at the same time as the 1924 Summer Olympics. 

Every two years, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) organizes the tournament and chooses the host nation. This time their choice was India!

Sister’s Wedding @ Mamallapuram

My sister got married on Friday at our ancestral town Mamallapuram, about 45 km from here on ECR and I attended both the events – the reception at night and marriage in morning – by staying a night from a guesthouse there. Though the wedding turned out eventful and content packed there was something couldn’t make feel relaxed or comfort at certain level i.e. the wedding hall was in the first floor with no lift!  It was a marriage happened within kinship and my sister (cousin) is married to her maternal uncle’s son and it was their desire to go together in life and we all approved their decision after small hesitations, since we were looking for a bridegroom outside the relative circle this was unexpected and we couldn’t say no as it was her life and she has all rights to decide her companion and thus marriage was fixed and following an engagement in February.

My sister was sent off  early in the afternoon (of Thursday) to Mamallapuram to get ready for the evening reception and bride inviting and we planned to leave by 4 pm in evening so that we could relax before the event begin by 6 pm. But we left home only by 6! Though we reached there in an hour things were to be hurried up. We had booked two vans for the relatives, friends and neighbors to cover the distance also arrived late to delay the pace and my sister went directly to the nearest temple from the beauty parlor - as per the custom, the bride will be invited to the wedding hall following a procession from temple, either by car or walk about, which signifies the beginning of wedding process in Indian culture. Already the crowd perched the hall when we arrived and there wasn’t time for anyone to spare me to transfer me to the marriage hall in first floor and it was packed further to make transfer difficult, so I settled in the ground floor courtyard where couple of rows seated and a shamiana tent was spread out with popcorn and cotton candy stalls installed where people thronged despite age differences.

I happened to meet and see many people during the occasion, where many of them were long seen and as I seated in a corner some couldn’t notice me as I did but glad there was a LED screen placed in the courtyard where I watched the live happening on the reception. The dining hall was in ground floor so it wasn’t an issue to have dinner but the tables aren’t comfortable for me and I was to use my regular wheelchair tray and plate instead eating from banana leaf, which takes a special place in our festivals.  Being late to the venue and beginning of the event it extended beyond 10 pm, when we had our dinner and moved to the room, which is a walkable distance from the wedding hall   that I covered in wheelchair.  I couldn’t participate in the wedding reception but I was content attending the special occasion of my sister and I was transfer to the wedding hall in the morning to watch the ceremony with help of my brothers and his friends.  The wedding was attended by close relatives alone so it wasn’t much difficult to transfer me by shifting to a chair and then to wheelchair, I got to watch things happening on the stage from the first row.

But what really turned out difficult was the timing. The marriage ceremony that held between 6 to 7.30am is quite an inconvenient for us whose wakeup time is not less than 8 am and for the 6 am ceremony I waked up at 5 but still went half a way through the marriage rite. The brides sat on the decorated stage in traditional wears of Dhoti and Saree and I felt they looked beautiful and fresh in the morning than in the elaborated makeup for the night reception. The marriage is conducted by the bridegroom family, so we haven’t to decide anything and the wedding hall was also their choice as it located very close to their house. I feel there was something missing which I couldn’t say what but I could transparently see the happiness on my sister’s face despite the exhaustion went through wedding process. We couldn’t spend much time with the brides rather hurriedly taking photos, the couple were sent off to Tirupati temple (about 200 km from Mamallapuram) as soon the breakfast is over and we moved out of the marriage hall and check out the room and fired back to home. Both the dinner and breakfast was good enough and this was quite a wedding I attended after a cousin’s marriage in 2012. I hope my sister led a happy married life and being a known family I believe she feels the comfort of home.

Our house illuminated in colorful led lights for the wedding

Apart the celebration of marriage, the day out there was terrific and the weather was burning to ashes once out of the wedding hall! The air con in car couldn’t control the heat wave even at high speed and I couldn’t remember how we reached home so was the sultry weather blurred the senses. We checked out our guesthouse room (Sri Murugan) by 11 am and I felt it was too pricey for a night with two to three cots in a room with no blankets and air con with no control to reduce cold. Moreover they denied allowing our pet dog, which they agreed when our relative inquired and so we booked the room. I had no chance to capture any photos and what you see here were few shot by mom.

Back on track

It’s been sometime went out as family which includes my uncle’s family, with whom we lived as a single family once and still being oneness in mind except living at independent homes. The real plan was I alone going out with my uncle’s family but later my parents decided to join our undecided destination on my wish which was supposed to go out of city and have lunch at somewhere as a kind of picnic we usually do.

(Thiruporur temple tower and tank)

Being bored often taking the ECR (East Coast Road), we decided to go through OMR (Old Mamallapuram Road) and come via ECR to home in Thiruvanmiyur... but later our plan changed and instead of going simple this way, parents wished to go to Manapakkam Kanni Koil (Virgin temple) near Chengalpet, on the bank of River Palar. We had been to this temple more than a decade ago and the deity in this temple is 7 stones, and it is considered as a deity common amongst the traditional family deities (Kula Deivam).

(Temple tank, Thiruporur)

It was early noon and sun was scorching bright and there wasn’t a change on our track and instead we extended and took the Thiruporur – Chengalpet route to reach the temple, which is among my favorite routes passes through forest, little mounts, villages and paddy fields. It’s a single lane road from beginning and only now has took some widening process and it doesn’t look like affection the environment and nature for good and the gladder part was its unchanged for decades.

We took refrain under a banyan tree for lunch on our way and the cool breezy shadow under the tree gives space for fresh air and the village environment and paddy fields beside send me back in the essence of soil scent and memories. I have spent many of my summer holidays in villages and its experience is one among the bliss and the smell comes out from soil and along the cow dung and firewood smoke at early dawn and evening is unequal to anything lavish.

(young paddy field near my grandpa’s village on the way)

The Kanni Koil is 5-6km away from Chengalpet and since Sunday it was crowded and looked like a village festival and vehicles were parked lot and activates of cooking and head shaving function for kids where hold to end at each corners and could see newlyweds with garlands to come and worship their family deity. By the time we left the temple, the sun hides away leaving dusk behind and mild coldness in air and in little mounts and paddy field backdrop cherish the mood of hill stations.

The return journey was very pleasant and we took Thirukalukundram – Mamallapuram route to connect ECR which bears enough greenery and paddy fields and lakes being filled with mild foggy at visible distance and little coldness to sense. Mind was thinking about cuppa and dad asked me understanding my favor for having coffee at countryside or little town tea shop which I believe and tasted to be nice and shops here uses direct cow or buffalo milk for coffee or tea. But sometime its disappointment waits for me and this time to the roadside café where we drink coffee serve us a hot water kind of coffee and it seems they also use the mixed packet milk.

(Row of palmyrah trees on the way to Chengalpet from Thiruporur)

The usual Sunday busy bee kind of traffic waits for us after Mamallapuram, delayed more than 45 minutes to stand in queue to the slow motion snail creeping drag by vehicle after Mayajaal. It’s like on Sundays the city’s inner are easily accessible than driving from outside the city. This time cousin took control of the wheel and dad take refrain and caught up with his paper reading and guiding cousin on his minor mistakes and on my part kept alerting him on potholes and speed barkers since he’s in his early driving experience. It’s quite enchanting over chatting and spending quality time with family and sharing thoughts on behalf changes and wish for residing among quiet village’s en route!

Magam Festival

Similarly I have not much explored and aware about the festival Masi Magam that come in Tamil month of Masi (February-March). This festival usually falls on full moon day following the Makram star on this month and is considered highly favorable across south Indian Temples, especially in Tamil Nadu. This year Masi Magam felled on Feb 21, the full moon day. The important aspect of this festival is taking idols from the temples to the seashore or nearby ponds to dip and is also related to holy bath ceremony. After doing pujas and other rituals at the shore, thousands of devotees are throng near the shore to witness the worship and bathing in the sea.

In this process the Lord Vishnu and Shiva Idols are the most brought to the shore and also Idols from the Shakti temples. The myths are numerous according to Masi Makam and each temple has a myth for celebrating this festival. According to legend this festival importantly relates to Lord Shiva, who appears as a child before King Vallala of Tiruvannamalai, who has contributed in spreading the benefits of Girivalam and Arunachala temple and a passionate devotee of Shiva get promised by lord to perform his last ritual as he have no son or heir. What relates to this festival is the king died on a day is known as Masi Magam and it is said that the Lord performed his last rites. So it is believed that every year the Lord visits the sea to perform the last rites of the King and whoever bathes in the sea during Masi Magam will merge with him and will get mukthi(salvation).

Once in every twelve years people celebrate it in grand, and was called Maha Maham which is celebrate with great importance at the Adi Kumbeswaran temple in Kumbakonam. This temple holds a huge tank and the water from cavery driven to this tank, which deemed to be special and holiness. In my experience I was able to cover one of the celebrations in late years at Mamallapuram which was our ancestors place. This is one place the festival celebrates with highly important of two days. The first day before Masi Magam is known as Theppothsavam (floating festival). On this day Sri Ulaguyya Nindra Piran (Sthalasayana Perumal) idol from the nearest temple brought to the tank and kept on the decorated barge to make it float along the tank, to sail around for nine rounds. The steps would be filled with people watching the float raft and those interested are allowed to pull the float.

Masi Magam is conducted on the continuing day with special ritual performance for Uthsava Perumal (festival god) idol that brought to sea. After the proceeding are over, the idol was keep few distance away from the sea for moments, so that the devotees can take dip (with more excitement along with family and friends) in sea what they believe as holiness bath and then to get received blessing from the Lord. They won’t allow anyone to bath in the sea before lord enters. These are some process I have witnessed from one of my experience at Masi Magan some years back and I hope there would be nothing have changed so far. This year my cousin’s family whet to take part in Mamallapuram Magam and for some reason I unaccepted there invite. When I am writing this, the festival has been over already with a day passing, but I thought to share something about this festival.

Photos from onerupee.net. Both pictures are taken from mamallapuram masi magma.

RGB Monday

A colorful Ganesh temple

Last week, I got to travel to some relative's house to present an invitation to my brother's marriage (Nov 26^th) along with the parents, cousin, and uncle, and a few of them were distant relatives similarly staying at a distance of about 60 to 70 km from our location. So my parent thought that it would be an opportunity to take me out as I haven’t traveled anywhere (other than going on a half-day trip to Mamallapuram last month) since the announcement of lockdown in March. One of a relative’s house located on ECR got a colorful Ganesh temple (pic above) at the end of their road.

I hadn’t taken my wheelchair along with me, and I haven’t intended to visit anybody, as I haven’t done it after a stage, and they are our relatives we seldom visited. And above all, this is a period to better stay away, as my intention had been only traveling, it doesn’t matter anyway. We traveled on roads that we rode many times in the earlier days, brought me a nostalgic feel, and make feel wonder looking at the changes that happen everywhere. Some things are unchanged for good to feel relaxed, like the Mamallapuram – Thirukalukundram road with enough greenery and country life. 

I couldn’t see things around me after some time, as we spent a lot of time at Mamallapuram and it being our ancestral town we have many relatives there and when we move out of the town it turned evening and quickly get into the dark to block me from many views. After a long time, I come across a railway crossing and waiting some time for a couple of trains to pass, and it was a joy I long missed because many places I have traveled had flyovers and subways to move at swift. I took photos of things that I find interesting, and many of them were sky shots that I could share sometime later on the blog.

Ganesha and My Childhood

Picture from my archives

During my childhood days, I used to wish visiting this Ganesha carved on the rock by a small mound in Mamallapuram – a town famous for rock cut sculptures and a UNESCO WHS near Chennai, while we visiting our relatives house there. The rock cut Ganesha is very close to the Karukathamman Temple – one of our families commonly worshiped temples, in the west of the town; so, many of our visit to Mamallapuram witnessed worshiping at the temple and for me to check the Ganesha climbing on the rocks  beside the temple.

More than the rock-cut Ganesha, the quiet and pleasant environment and a small adventure of climbing on the rocks and following path track are the main that attracts me to this place; and there are also two rock cut shrines on the mound belong to 7^th century, named as Pidari Ratham and Valiankuttai Ratham. (Ratham is a word means Chariot in Tamil). Other than these, we could find a trace of red on the rocks for which my grandma used to say, ‘that it was the bloodstain of an evil man who was killed and dragged though the rocks by the goddess for ill-treated the people of the town.’

This photo was taken by mom in 2006, during one of our visit to Mamallapuram and today no one is allowed on this mound or checking the Ganesha, since archeology department has put fence across the area to protect. I really love visiting this temple, not in devotion but just for the isolation and pleasantness provide by the pond side with trees for shadow and benches to sit relax and cherish.

Ganesh used to be my favorite god in childhood and my mom used to tell till date that my hands come closed wherever I see Ganesh then.  Today the totally perception is different and I have come to believe there no god exists but I don’t deny the fact that I had great faith on god once, unconsciously. In no way I interrupt others belief on god and I respect their faith and wishes from heart for their plea get answered in some ways!

In and around

Another travel lateral to OMR, it’s now ECR. Traveling on the east coast road is always fun and boost for smooth ride loving. This time with a purpose to ride our family to Mamallapuram, I get another traveling opportunity on my favorite lane with cousins and grandparent. It was merry go around with my bros and sisters. It was raining half our way and drizzling carried on breeze pleased. Our pet Maya was chilling in moving wind and so keeping her face outside window enjoying the weather. Even it was Bakrid, the mamallapuram doest fail to get attention by many visitors. After dropping our elders at great-mom’s place, I and cousins went around just like that or even to burn our times instead waiting for there conclusion and visit too two more relative place next to another.

I didn’t brought my wheels, so I can’t move specially anywhere than out looking. Many things have changed and improvements on progress. I wonder what really is not! In the beautification progress they have changed the genuine things around. Esp. the cheese ball has missed its amazing stance for and stories said behind this globe like structure standing on this slide, immovable for human and animals’ power. It was something back hard to climb on the sloppy rock to touch the cheese ball, but it was touched today easily in few steps. It has a slider narrow substance on the rock which we slide and play then and even now it receives same joy for little foot distance. It’s more than a decade back I climbed on this rock and many times we visit this rock yet it is near to our sis home.

Must say the tourism department is taking good steps to save the remaining structures and rock cut sculptures to maintain properly, even in cost of visitors. I really wish let that’s be a rumor what the entry fee is very different from country visitors to foreigners. Sure I must go around in my wheel soon before I lose insight memories of the places I visited back. It terms I am looking around from outside fencing. Even deriving the rain and cloudy weather staying before the cheese ball, we tasted ice-creams get by our sweet sister. It was fun looking Maya as we all having ice-crème and she was whining for and all along she was fellowship riding. Mamallapuram is home town to my sis and who was visiting our home in Chennai. After calling dad to know that it would take some more time to return, so we decide to go around the town, colonies and shore. Sure it was something I will continue at my next post.

To those unknown about Mamallapure, it is a very famous place for rock cut structures belong to 7th centuries, carved by Pallava Dynasty; which is just 45 km away from Chennai on ECR.

A2B Park at Mamallapuram

Early this month I took a ride on ECR (east coast road) just to pass some time and travel but later nearing Mamallapuram, my parents instantly planned to visit one of my uncles who wasn’t well there. To those unknown, Mamallapuram is my grandfather’s hometown and many our relatives lives there and it is a 7^th century sculptural town renowned for its stone carvings from many single rocks or monolithic. But I’m not here now to describe the town or its popularity or UNESCO status instead want to share some pictures of a small park at the entrance of the town belong to A2B, a popular restaurant chain.

We stopped at A2B to buy some sweets and snacks as we visit our uncle there, I liked their simple park with walk paths, green lawns and many palms to make it look so green and beautiful with bordering flowering shrubs. Dropping parents at uncle’s house we moved into the town for some glimpses and caught at traffic, since it was Sunday the places were all thronged by tourist. We quickly exit at the other end and turned back to uncle’s house.

Linking this post for  Good Fences by Gosia

Feeling motion

It was something like back to future. I hardly missing those wonderful feeling and it was such pleasant after years. This post is a continuation of last post on travel. When decide to go around Mamallapuram, it was sis idea to go to shore and she knows how much I like seashores that too visible waves near. It was years I remember standing near the sea water and running to waves chasing, but in these years it seems a merry distance. It was a quite shore we visited Tuesday and must thank rain for drenching sand to make advance our Scorpio through this off-road beside GRT Temple Bay to reach nearby waves. I feel how minds changed from the disaster tsunami in 2004 and there is little scare about the sea and rising waves, even though wish extends my scarcity, thus I could not fill those little foot distance. It could be a wonderful experience, if hesitation doesn’t stop my desire to go ahead splashing the waves on wheels. Sometimes it may think foolish, but my dream is unique and there is no requiring of everyone similarity.

The spontaneous wave’s one upon another, foaming improperly caress the feet drench to sense the pressure of tugging. I have experienced very little in past and those moments are only existing throughout to remain forever in the inevitable life. The nature has created much and seas are one best to wonder through its occult suspense. After the strange tsunami it becomes an uncontrollable evident, got changed in its nature to threaten people. Getting out of sort, we come across a colony-village within town. It was not the one in natures path – country streets, and very little available of tiles and palm leaf house. I think when world is changing into development of modern concrete structures why I feel for those old and symbols to poverty.

There was a sudden odor in the breeze took away to the awesome feel, back to our days in village. When in winter or cold evening the people use to burn fire woods to cook and make smoke around to feel comfort and warmth. Villages being wet around, after sunset there could sense a cold and snowier chillness in atmosphere, when it combines with the smoke it gives pleasant. When I felt it suddenly that day, there it mesmerizes! I share with my sister how faint it was getting after long time to this sensation. The children playing beside and around the streets, rolling tires, along sharing space the hens and goats. This town of mamallapuram remains identical to my views, except much constructions and spreading of underground sewage system, even some suburbs not. The open canals and mosquitoes have been control by, and tourism gives way too many businesses and tradition own of carving sculptures is falling least by extend. The passenger buses through this stretch have been facilitated to international standard and privatization of the ECR makes people easily available.

RGB Monday

A colorful shot from the streets of Mamallapuram 

Mamallapuram is a sculptural town as well a coastal town and popular tourist place near Chennai and its sculptures and monuments are dated back to 7th century, where the rocks carved by the Pallava dynasty. I find this snap I took from the slow moving car looking like two different shots weld together– where on the right-side of the image is seen a bakery, hang out with colourful junk food packets (resembling RGB colors) and the left side is a shop sells seashell ornaments. And this girl came into the scene, adds a sweet gesture with an amusing expression going with a wind wheel in hand. 

Indian Dance Festival 2009

My sister invites us to witnessing the Indian dance festival happening from Dec 25-Jan25, 09 in mamallapuram, so as visiting her as celebrating Pongal. Being renowned tourist place, it attracts more visitors on festival days, so decided to get there uncertainly on Saturday. On the way joins my aunt’s family and it was more fun adding to this trip. The intention was to sight the dance festival in evening and getting to shore temple after noon, but still there was crowd left by festival season and time was less, there was another idea of fishing and hook’s were brought by cousin, though time was less because most of the time spent on to conversation and what can the expectation when families get together.

After cuppa we start to walk and me on wheels towards the cheese ball, what can be than fun when walking together and those shared movements. We reached the garden come cheese ball after 15mintues walk, receiving some relatives on our way, and spent sometime on garden, around sculptures. By 6pm everyone was drive outside the complex by whistled guard, I wonder what people may do if stayed after 6pm. There are times this place was uncared and unclean, wandered by lives across anytime and excrements left over, must really appreciate the archeological and tourism department to make this place such beautification and attractive surface with grass floors and fencing around in care those unique sculptures and rock. Being so nice, we moved before those guards force.

So we moved early to catch the dance festival on stage before the Arjuna’s Penance, in backdrop of renowned carved elephants. I unaware that days events, just went like that to view a strange performance by guys in crowned head and swords in hand, uttering some odd words, coming around the stage by striking the swords on floor. After sometime I get to know through someone in crowd, it was Arunachal Dance. I just Google to know it was Arpos Dance, played by Monpa tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, about 25 dancers, wearing helmets, carrying swords and look like ancient warriors, which describe the manner in ancestors tribe to defeat there enemies. It’s also the state dance of Arunachal Pradesh. To know, everyday there was some states traditional classic and folk dances are performed in festival.

Next was our classical dance Bharatanatyam, performed by the local school students and resident children around Mamallapuram. It’s tough time later, the relatives and parents of the students take place around the stage covering the performance visibility, because we were standing beside the stage closed by wooden protection and they were entered through the gaps and mislead the guards. Finally they covered completely invisible, so we moved and bored to see not much variation in performance. It was late evening, cold weather, and back to sister’s home, having our dinner and arrived home by 9.40pm. About the festival, it expounds the classical dances of Indian states, in backdrop of glorious rock cut sculptures belong to 7th centuries of Pallava period. It’s an annual Indian dance festival organized by Tamil Nadu Tourism Department near the season to Pongal. More pictures can be seen here at my Dance Festival set.

RGB Monday

My parents decided to visit my maternal aunt's home and then to Mamallapuram to invite some relatives to the next week's baby shower of my sister-in-law. Taking this as an opportunity, my parents decided to take me out on Saturday, as I haven't gone out since lockdown 0.2; I also visited my aunt's home after five years.

I want to visit my aunt's home sometime and gladly took this opportunity, though I didn't get into her home as we had a short time as we arrived there in the evening. But surprisingly, aunt decided to accompany us on our drive to Mamallapuram, and that way she could spend time with us.  Later we dropped her off at a bus stop on the way home, and she immediately got on her bus and reached home on time. 

It was nice to come out after a long time, and I  could see many changes around me, and some remain the same as before. I could see houses and buildings in bright colors and many developments in road construction and flyovers, easing the traffic. I shared above is one of an apartment painted in different colors in the neighborhood of West Tambaram. I also got a series of sunset shots from the ECR to share in a future post. 

Signs2

The stone slab outside the Koyambedu Bus Stand in Chennai, one of the largest bus stations in Asia, commemorates the day the foundation for the Chennai Suburban Bus Stand was laid. 

The engraved inscription on the stone slab was beautifully embellished with illustrations that highlight the landmarks and cultural symbols of Tamil Nadu. On the left stood the saint, Tiruvaluvar, and on the right was the stone chariot of the Valluvar Kottam in Chennai. The top line includes the rock-cut temples of Mamallapuram and the statue of Kannagi from the Tamil epic Silapathikaram. 

The foundation was laid by the late former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi. 

A warning sign or message to drivers on the east coast road, abbreviated as ECR.

The government renamed ECR Muthtamil Kalaizar Road two days ago (after the late Tamil Nadu chief minister, M.Karunanithi); however, I believe that the original name (ECR) was more appropriate and easier to pronounce.  Even though the OMR (old Mamallapuram Road), the IT corridor of Chennai, was renamed  Rajiv Gandhi Road some time ago, people still refer to it by its former name. Similarly, I expect the ECR will continue to spell the same. 

Riding visiting

Sun was shining on Sunday, but not me feeling it along the Coromandel Coast on a short long drive filled with chillness inside the wagon. Uncle brought a new car, so planned for a ride in ECR with our family and then it was visiting the traditional family deity temple few kilometers away from Kalpakkam. It was more than ten years back we went, this time grandma was with us, so made her to visit the temple what she was asking for long time. On the way we picked the cousin bro, who was still spending his holidays wandering after attending the Mamallapuram Magam. The place was clueless to find, when the time we visited last it was vacancy and nothing to do with rarely people visit. Now buildup with structure, the temple attracted more people and have priest to take care devotees. There was a known family in the same villages, we stop there who never knows them except dad, but the people are more human enquiring where even both of us were unfamiliar. I wonder at people behavior that I find only in villages enquiring people and share the moment as familiar.

Still I find the small children looking around the car and asking about what is it, how it works…. There was a little one with festival cooling glass making fun with others, I really impressed in there amuse and innocent smiles. On returning we parked the vehicle on roadside with paddy fields and small canal runs where we stopped for lunch. The wishes came along passing the dried Palar river bed and clean water stays some where the ditches to think playing in it. When ever I see a dried river with little waters, the mind craves for fun ride on like trekking style. For grandma she needs to meet some relatives in mamallapuram and I was eager to visit my dear sister there we get to spend with her in times waiting for grandma to finishing her attendant with relatives.

Bro was driving (in his style) the way, this time unusual for me traveling except from Maruti 800 and this vehicle with more spaces and to climb and down though not comforts me whom really have quite satisfied with my position at Maruti. One or two thing I disagree with my brother driving was too speed and unaware of overtaking places that made me to use the seat belt and then only I felt how safe is to use seat belts are in highways. Anyway it was cool and different ride, going to some place that was like memorable time had been revisits with my lost uncle shyam’s thought with whom we first get there.

Granny’s valediction

My grandma is retiring from her 39 years of service as a teacher in government school in Mamallapuram near Chennai, by this month end. We were attending her farewell and as well congratulate function yesterday evening, and I was feeling could I able to attend that function which I thought 39 years as teacher is not a simple act and by my wish she invited us and I went with more interest to share and by watching her most worth function in life time. If not to be my own granny, I like her so much, though she was a sibling of my grandmother and to tell mom’s aunt.

She started her carrier as a teacher in her age of 19, and she joined as a primary school teacher in mamallapuram from where she retires now. In those periods she has been moved to many schools in the region of Chengalpet a near town to Chennai. She has two sons and a daughter. Unexpected after her hubby who is also a teacher passed away and then to her often displacement on job and to our request she come to settle down near to Chennai, so we could feel of being with her.

It was the times as we children, soon the summer vacations starts our whole thoughts would be visiting her place and to be there is delight for me and bro, of the love we share with grandma, uncle and aunt – her sons and daughter, who is a year elder than me. None would be there dislike my grandma, as she is so kind and attachment to everyone and every time we visit there our memories waits in eager till we meet next time. My uncle and aunt are our best company in holidays, and we care so much each other and even the moments would be silly when we fight for no big reason. In the long run many things changed and in our heart we hold a place for them ever.

It was by 4 in evening the function was in process and more than an hour it lasted after we arrive. The colorful festoons brings a festive feel and children around to listen the congratulate speech by other teachers, headmasters of different schools wherever she served and panchayat leaders for her service as a teacher for 39 years. Finally my grandma spoke about her experience, and tales herself with students and teachers. She was near dropping tears when she tries to express how much the affection she kept on her students and their request to be there for making them learn some method easier, but I moved when she disclose her difficulty in teaching and visiting school daily. I hope she get more rest after her retirement and peace stay with memories of special moments in her carries of teacher.

After wishes, presenting gifts and the sweet words spoken about her could find a happier in her face and sure her mind must be. Just the sent-off haven’t end at school, in home she prepare for a dinner for us and to her colleague teachers who comes along with her as a custom of leaving her at home. More the clouds and rain in evening makes the moment pleasant and after we left home with satisfaction of being at a special moment of hers. In addition to wonder, the school she began her carrier and ends is to celebrate its century in 2 years which was started in 1910.

My first tourist destination

Being a Chennaitie, my first tourist destination outside Chennai is perhaps Mahabs.  But Mamallapuram being my ancestor’s town I could not consider it as a tourist destination first and I have been there countless time and many a visit to the town has sighted in any of the sculpture site. My most favorite place then at Mamallapuram was Venna Tharatna Kal (butter ball) and we frequent there esp. to have fun sliding on the rock slopes.

Krishna’s Butter Ball is a natural wonder, where a large rock boulder balance on the sliding rock surface is believed as a stone found on Krishna’s plate. The Pallava kings had tried to pull down the huge boulder with the help of their elephant force (thinking anytime the rock could roll down) but failed in their attempt. The lush green lawn in front of this rock (once an open ground for cattle to rest) take  one for pleasant calm and as a group to sit and chit chat.

I have been strolled behind the rock slopes and crossing the gaps between rocks and there was a well with green water, which was called Sita Kinaru (well) because it is believed that Sita bathed in that well. I have no pictures on them, but I still hold memories on those sight and there was also a path lead to our relative’s house then. I hope everything were blocked and fenced by ASI, doing wonderful job in protecting the sculptors and rocks. We never thought then these places will take such pleasant enhancement and flourish in green.

Another place I liked and which is close to butter ball was Arjunan Penance. It is a giant bas-relief filled with marvelous carvings of various human forms and animals; the most fascinating part overall for me personally then were the Elephants. The sculptor of elephant couple and cute calves carved on the bottom of the bas-relief could be a favorite sight for any child and the pit reveal the bottom part was something dragged me then to look what is inside.

Another pretty scene next to this site was a sculptor of monkey looking lice on another. As kids (me and my bro) we used to go and stand behind the sculptor and pose like looking lice on the monkey sculpture. Beneath the monkeys, there’s a small slide to play and a rock carved steps to climb on, but I don't like it much as the natural sliding near the butter ball. The slide was partially hid now after the earth rose because of the lawn making.

Footnote:

Just thought to write something for the World Tourism Day today and here’s a brief account on my first tourist destination out of Chennai.