Weeping Gods

Shot at the Kamaraj Sagar Dam Nilgiris on the Ganesha vajirnam day

A ritual that did good for the independence in rousing the nationalistic fervor – eventually took over by the hue of saffron in a big way it was abduction of the custom (of sort) or a smart orientation of Ganesh Churthithi to be associated with the saffron brigade, (this phenomenon is mostly evident in the Southern India) neither did we realize it happen all along. Most of the time we don't question the basic premise behind these customs or ritual in the current scenario, but that is how most of customs and rituals have been for years and for generations they are the symbols of cultural identities and one doesn't reason them, just go thru it with reverence and celebrations if need be. Once you start reasoning then it manifests or zeros down to the core of our cultural beliefs, it is the shadow of our social wantons, subscribing it for brandishing the ego of our beliefs, one such is this custom of the Ganesh Idol immersion what has turned into the much publicized heart thumping show in the edge of religious glorification, thou these kind of customs brings out common man thru local groups, neighborhood clubs, religious sabhas and other cultural clubs together, it is a good comradeship. As we move with the times we and the religious heads interpret and modify the rituals or customs to suit according to our whims and fancies when this is very much acceptable. Now why cannot we apply the same modification to this custom as well - the custom of immersing the Ganesha's idol in the water bodies if the religious heads see reasons and care for the environs, rather then polluting the water bodies the solution can be arrived like as creating a solid idol immersing the idol in the water bodies and retrieve it back the same to be reused for next year this way the ritual remains intact ,the water bodies not polluted and above all the dignity and respect to the idol as god is upheld.

Transportation by all Means

In the deep recesses of sathy forests this is transport by all means, one is always inquisitive if the great Indian development ethos hasn't arrived here as yet. It will remain as a paradigm that equates the human aspiration on one side and the greater common good of conservation on the other side which will be detrimental to development For these people who have sustained in this part of the world for generation as as predominant herders and cultivating upstream settlers. The fallout of the greater common good side is the development marginalization which is very much evident here, attributing to conservation of the critical wildlife habitat that this region boosts of as an Elephant corridor and a haven to host of other endangered species. These people are thus denied of their share in the great Indian Development pie.

A mud road that leads from the town of Bhavani Dam all the way to Thengumarada dotted with small settlements of Hallimoyar, Gazallhatti and Kallampalayam. This route is being serviced by a Government Bus once in a day with erratic timings and by the milk van that you see in the above frame. It is a 2 hours drive from Bhavani Dam.