Festival time

The festivities of the day came to a grand closure a couple of hours ago.  I am now back at home after a tiring yet jubilant day at the temple. The famous 'Kalpathy Ratholsavam' (meaning 'The chariot festival of Kalpathy') beckons enthusiasts from even across the seas.  I have been going through it and have experienced the aura surrounding this festival for the past several years, yet every year I find myself recharged by the very ambience created by it.  Never have I witnessed a festival of such a magnitude so well organized, where ordinary people who might never have met before in their life come together on the streets and devote their mind and body for a divine cause.
It is harvest time for the roadside makeshift shopkeepers too. There is virtually no limit to the kind of items you can lay your hand on.  Today however, the rain played spoiler towards the end of the day which sent many of them packing.

It is getting late now.  Before signing off, attaching a few snaps from the festival that I took today.
Good bye for now.

Kalpathy getting ready for the festival.

A decorated chariot getting ready to roll

People flood the streets on festival day

It's been a week...

The week gone by was too hectic that it feels only a couple of days have passed. It was exactly one week ago that I wrote my previous post.  It's past 12 midnight now. My eyes are feeling heavy already.  But still wanted to login and check how everyone is doing.  Nice to see a few photos from old pals.  Felt even nicer to put my comments on them.  Just waiting to see how they would react now... :-)


Will write some time later.  On to the bed now.

Good night all..

On this day of Deepavali...

Getting up at 3 in the morning was unthinkable a few years ago, but today it was unavoidable, since I was about to start for home. I was thrilled by the thought of driving up till home at that odd hour of the day.  Getting ready quickly, I set out and made myself comfortable behind the wheels.... and God! what a ride it was speeding through the deserted road on such a cold dark morning.
The rain that had been pouring down incessantly throughout the night had virtually flooded the roads.  Driving on them seemed to be such a strange experience, especially since it was the first of its kind and I was not yet so much used to taking a car onto the road.  I am still mastering the art of driving.  But still, it was a good ride. I enjoyed it!
The day passed by quickly.  Not surprising though. How else do you expect a Deepavali to be?  The day had its importance, not only that it was Deepavali, but some other reason as well. Will detail on that on another occasion.  Family members - many of them - visited my house today and we all had a nice time together.  What better occasion than a Deepavali to have the family to come together.
I could hear some occasional bursts of crackers from the streets.  Celebrations on the streets have not yet subsided.
Let the light prevail for ever. Happy Deepavali...!!!