Old and new
July 29, 2007
It is a long standing tradition that the deities in the temples are taken out and paraded through the streets from time to time. It is always done using huge “chariots” that are elaborately decorated and are frequently, as seen above, three stories tall and beautifully decorated.
Bear in mind that half the fun is that they are usually pulled using huge long lengths of rope so everyone can participate and take part. Frequently they are stored in huge barn like structures but this one was, at least for the duration of our stay, parked along the side of the main street in Kanchipuram.
With the billboards and traffic it is a great representation of traditional India merged with the realities of modern life.