browngeek's photostream  

Elephants are an integral part of the Hindu religion. They are a representation of the Lord Ganesh (he is the one with a human body and an elephant head). Ganesh is also the most popular of the Hindu gods and hence receives the first prayers at any Hindu ceremony or at the beginning of new business ventures.

On the banks of the river Kaveri in Trichy, we watched this family getting blessed by the local elephant. The well-trained veteran was very adept at garlanding with his long trunk!

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River Kaveri, Tricy, Tamil Nadu, India

A snapshot of two generations.

A local fisherman proudly showing his catch.
A local fisherman's son proudly showing his school uniform.

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Mararikulam, Kerala, India

Locals hanging out at the beach. Watching the sunset, and covertly snapping photos of fair-skinned female tourists :)

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Mararikulam Beach, Kerala, India

Ranganathan St. - This is the most crowded street in Chennai. It is at the heart of the shopping district.

It is said that during the festival seasons of Diwali and Pongal, the crowds here are in such great numbers that it is impossible to walk because the crowds will carry you.

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Chennai, India

This is the St.Thomas Basilica in Chennai. It symbolizes the birthplace of Christianity in India.

St.Thomas, one of the original Apostles, arrived on the shores of Kerala in the 1st century. He eventually set up camp in Chennai and started spreading the word of Jesus.

India at that time was really a bunch of different kingdoms with varying degrees of Hindu beliefs (Islam, of course, was not yet born). St. Thomas soon gained thousands of followers. His quick success, unfortunately, became suspicious to certain locals who decided to do the horrible. He was killed in the hills of what is now known as St.Thomas Mount, with a spear to his back, 20 years after he had first arrived in India.

The basilica is very popular with the local Catholic community. St.Thomas' tomb is at the base of this basilica.

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St. Thomas Basilica, Chennai, India