This is a view from the old yagya house roof showing the unused gopuram (tower) entrance to the Varadaraja Temple that is just across the street. It is the second largest Vishnu temple in India. After what seems to be years of neglect, they have constructed bamboo and palm leaf scaffolding to cover both this tower and the main entrance tower for renovations. This is one good aspect of the government taking over the running of some of the larger temples in India. They seem to be better maintained.
Inside the temple wall, there are always various festivals taking place and they usually seem to involve taking Vishnu and Lakshmi out for a ride around the neighborhood and back again. It is great fun and full of noise and music. By tradition when the deity leaves the temple, they fire an old fashioned cannon, and again when they return. It gives a very timeless quality to the place. Of course the intent is to signal people when the deity is there so that they don’t come for darshan (viewing) only to find their deity gone. Simple but effective since the cannon is so loud it carries for miles.
In the center of that water tank, there is a temple in which there is a Narasimha murti, so strong and and powerful that he is kept underwater and is brought out only once every 40 years!