More Mamallapuram and countdown to Diwali!

Some more pictures from the weekend. Chilled day home in AleeG today (our name for Alangayam) with new national volunteers and planning our sessions for tomorrow. Also typing up some handover notes to help with continuity when the next volunteers come. Diwali this week, very excited to be here for it. Wiki - Diwali also known as Deepavali and the "festival of lights", is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. 

Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate and decorate their homes. On Diwali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in family puja typically to Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and prosperity. After puja (prayers), fireworks follow, then a family feast including mithai (sweets), and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends. Diwali also marks a major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated.

Have lots of invites to neighbours houses and our national volunteer's house. Schools are closed from Wednesday onwards in celebration.
















A relatively small shop selling stones carvings all made in the area. They sell tiny elephants, chessboards, balls, statues etc often carved from one piece of stone or marble.
















Stone wall carving
















2 temples facing eachother and one in the back covered for refurbishment.




















Got to do some climbing in the park if you want to see the best sights.
















Shore temple built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. Costs 250 Rs. for foreigners and 10 Rs. for nationals to get closer.

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