Festival season


We had our first experience tonight with the Hindu festival season. On our way to Technopark this afternoon for ice cream, we saw a truck bringing an elephant into our neighborhood. We asked Rahul what was going on, and he explained that a local temple was having a parade. Murugan, a practicing Hindu unlike Rahul (we tease him about this), had the inside scoop. So in the early evening, with Murugan and Rahul stopping to ask directions, we were able to track down the parade and Claire and Luc got to touch an elephant.

The parade was quite interesting, though Rahul claimed it was miniscule compared to the 50-elephant parades in his town. Nevertheless, we got to experience a little local culture, and right here in out back yard practically.

We happened to encounter the parade from the rear, which was being brought up by the elephant.



Ahead of the elephant were some men playing music on the back of a flatbed truck.



Next were some men who we believe were in Theyyam costumes (Theyyam is a unique-to-Kerala ritualistic dance and storytelling performance that is believed to have originated as a folk dance to ward off poverty and illness).



Then there was a giant Shiva statue on the back of a flatbed truck. We got a picture of Luc, being held by Murugan, in front of what has become his patron saint of sorts, since like Shiva, Luc is a destroyer.



Finally, as we walked back against the flow of the parade to return to the car, I snapped this picture of a rickshaw passing the elephant. Many of the Christian rickshaw drivers adorn their rigs with various forms of religious messages. I've seen one a few times that simply has "Christ" painted across the windshield, but have never had the camera with me when I see it. I've been meaning to stop the driver to find out if he's related to Marion's family.

Posted: Sun - February 26, 2006 at 07:19 AM          

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