More from the Kapaleeshwar Temple - Mylapore

More from the Kapaleeshwar Temple - Mylapore

The Kapaleeshwar Temple at Mylapore is bathed in Hindu culture. If you are looking for a culture fest, come here any day. A festive day would be better. Like Navratri, the nine-day festival that precedes Diwali, the festival of lights.

These photos were shot on the 4th day of the Navratri festival. The arrangements you see here is called the 'Golu' in Tamil.

Dolls, rather clay models of all gods, goddesses and even animals considered holy by Hindus form part of this riotously colorful tableau.

Here, I presume it's Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, presiding over the tableau. Notice the lotus flowers arranged on the fringes?

Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles. (That reminds me of my friend who was frantically searching for his 'obstacles'. Turned out that he was actually searching for his spectacles. LOL).

This is not taken inside the main temples, but at a temporary shrine built just for Navratri.

Notice the traditional attire of the priests.

An arrangement... 

Sadhus at the foot of the Himalayas.

The arrangement being completed, by a devotee or trustee, I presume.,

Navratri falls around September/October. Check a Hindu calendar for the dates before you decide. But like I've mentioned before, even otherwise the Kapaleeshwar Temple is a feast to the eyes and balm to the soul.

Read my previous post and see more photographs here.

St. Thomas Mount

The Holy Apostles Convent. Come here for the view. You can even have a snack and tea while you enjoy it as there is a tea place here.

There are more statues like this all over the place. I actually didn't shoot many pics as my camera developed a zoom problem.

The view from the top.

Another view from the top.

Actually you can see the Chennai airport from here and watch take-offs and landings. Most people crowd around for that alone. But this place is much more than an airport view point.

This place is a part of recorded history, so don't miss it.

The sculpture of Jesus on the cross.

This banyan tree is massive. And very, very old.

Right under this banyan tree sits the bust of Col. William Lambton, born 1753. Apparently, this genius in trignometrical survey launched his field work from St. Thomas Mount.

St. Thomas Mount gets its name from Saint Thomas, the apostle of Christ, who is believed to have been martyred here. A church built in 1523 by the Portuguese and dedicated to Mary stands at the summit of this 300 feet high mount. People believe that the altar of this church was built on the very spot where St. Thomas died in AD 72.

Read more about St. Thomas Mount here.