Thiruvizha.

The annual festival was on in honour of Amman in nearby temple very recently.

A mega event . To which all the residents of the street were personally invited with an invitation the size of a laptop! The first 3 days are filled with religious fervour. Abhisekams of the presiding deity with milk. Venduthals [vows] performed by men and women by piercing their cheeks with long spears,thin and thick, mostly men and some of them dragging the auto , car or vans that they use and ply, by securing its front by ropes to metal hooks digging into their loose flesh on their shoulders and back , followed by women getting into trance and swaying and dancing and finally wrapped up by free lunch and dinner-- annadhanam.

The next 7 nights are devoted to entertainment. Dance, drama, music, mostly filmy variety and cinema.

The traffic is blocked [ not this time though], garbage piles high and my flat trembles and shakes at the loud blast from huge stereos.

This goes on every year, has been for the past 35 years ! An outlet and escape to all those labouring all year around with which I have no quarrel, even watched some unique dances like snake dance and the courageous dance of a one legged man but do have with the high decibel of the sound systems.

Photos :The lighting of the event.