What I Missed While Walking Past the Kanchi Mutt

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A place I passed every day without really understanding it. As a kid growing up in Malleswaram, devotion wasn’t something we discussed — it was just in the air. The smell of agarbathi in the evenings. The noise of vendors lining up on 8th cross before a festival. The quiet expectation that you showed up, bowed your head, and moved on. Ganesh Chaturthi. Varalakshmi Vratam. Deepavali. Janmashtami. Ugadi. The calendar moved, but the pattern stayed. The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in Malleswaram was part of my daily route to school. Not something I questioned. Not something I deeply understood. Just… there. Every morning, on my way to school, I would slow down for a second in front of the Mutt. Just enough to bow my head toward Kanchi Kamakshi from outside the gate — and then hurry along before the school bell. It was a ritual for as long as I can remember. I don’t know if it came from devotion. I did it because my parents did it. The street...
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Diwali wishes!

My last year's India trip definitely does not feel like a year ago. I had planned my trip in such a way that it coincided with Diwali, and it was well and truly worth it. Here goes some pictures from Diwali 2008 (all pictures taken in Malleswaram, Bangalore) and of course, wishing everyone a very happy Diwali 2009.






Diwali is the festival of lights. No wonder, you see the "Akashdeep" hanging out in abundance!












Flowers are overpriced during festivals, but who cares!












The little fella won't have a tough time selling his earthen ware. Earthen lamps, a common sight during any Indian festival, and during Diwali, you just have to see it to believe it












A neat line of bikes; all are sure shopping in Malleswaram 8th cross











Not very surprising to see the crowded 8th cross street!














The shopping spree continues indefinitely for the next few days










Almost anything and everything available in this little shop













The night is buzzing with activity with the firecrackers lighting up the city in style












A watchful little boy trying his luck with the "Bijli"

Comments

  1. ShubhikaOctober 10, 2009 at 6:18 AM

    So what are your plans for this Diwali?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Praveen KrishnanOctober 10, 2009 at 9:43 AM

    Nothing as of yet, Diwali is landing on a weekday as such!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ShubhikaOctober 11, 2009 at 8:45 AM

    nope its on saturday

    ReplyDelete
  4. KaminiOctober 14, 2009 at 2:19 PM

    These pictures made me feel so homesick!
    Happy Deepavali to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Praveen KrishnanOctober 14, 2009 at 6:50 PM

    Thanks a lot Kamini and happy Diwali to you too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Prashant PrabhuMarch 27, 2016 at 6:25 AM

    All that remains now is Nostalgia of world gone back...I miss the old Bangalore...

    ReplyDelete

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