lundi 4 décembre 2006

High steps. Allanganalur

Race is over...everyone comes back home...

Women area III. Allanganalur


Women area II. Allanganalur


Women area. Allanganalur


In their area , women are waiting since the morning, the bull's race will be in the afternoon.

Crowdy. Allanganalur


So many people for this famous bull's catching race...only men

Chaos. Allanganalur


The red rope. Allanganalur.


Waiting for the race...

jeudi 30 novembre 2006

mardi 28 novembre 2006

Night. Madurai


A grocer in front of his shop...it is late.

Shyness. Allanganalur.


Women.Allanganalur


All the men are at the bull's race, the village is a "city of women" .

Colours. Allanganalur


Colours for sale, in this Pongal day, will be used for the bull's decoration.

lundi 27 novembre 2006

Pearls. Allanganalur.

During the race, after amoment I rather liked to walk in the village...this little girl fights her unquiet feeling by taking her collar in the mouth and holding the father's hands on her shoulders.
A visit like mine is so unusual...but a moment after, the collar is not necessary and then the father's hands; just let the time make the things...

The champion. Allanganalur.


Men in the village drive me to this one: it's a champion, I have to see him...

Before the race. Allanganalur.


Waiting, they will enter in the race area, one by one.

Smile. Madurai


She is the little girl on the previous photo, she came to me, very curious and searching for connection, a nice little girl...

Kollams. Madurai

Kollams everywhere in this area of Madurai, for Pongal.
Vishnu will go out of his temple, as he does once a year, and will pass by here; everybody is waiting...

Northern gopuram. Madurai


Pilgrims having a chat at the entrance of the temple, while an old woman is waiting, hoping to recuperate some pieces of coconuts that pilgrim break here, as a ritual.

dimanche 26 novembre 2006

The red rope. Allanganalur


The bull. Allanganalur


Before the race, one of the decorated bulls.
The women are all together in the shade, after everyone will have a lunch, and after the race ...

Faces. Allanganalur


Pongal day, joyfull...

samedi 25 novembre 2006

Seps. Allanganalur


Pongal day, joy in the village....

Women. Madurai


Devotion for Hanuman...

Holy fires. Madurai


Sticks. madurai


I met her in a small street of Madurai...

Blue. Madurai

A morning ray of light in the temple.

Fatherhood. Madurai


Father and daughter do the pilgrimage; dressed in black and with the Shiva's collar.

jeudi 23 novembre 2006

Mutton's dinner time.


It's Ait-kebir day, we are in the muslim area in Madurai. Tonight the males will fight, each one is at the gate of the house, some with painted horns.

Red.


Could be an element of an egyptian fresque; in the market of madurai

Blue.

Funny trio, playing in the muslim area of Madurai.

Temple's kids.

Temple, yes, but also a nice place to play...

Fresque.

A small temple in a Madurai street.

Stone.

Problem with a little stone, need to stop and take it off.

Yellow.

Preparing herself some hours before, she will begg in front of the temple with the Shiva's trishull through her tongue; it's a rare moment: Vishnu will go out of his temple, as he does once a year.

mercredi 22 novembre 2006

Backs.

Looking at the lotus tank, in the Meenakshi temple.

amazed young devotee


Praying Ganesh with joyfulness, in the ghee lamp lights...

Veil.


Lamp.


Pilars.

Meenakshi temple, devotion and beauty are everywhere....

Old man.

Sitting in the street, spending time watching ...

Feet

Around the Ganesh shrine, dance of the feet...

Prayers


Subterranean mood, in the heart of Meenakshi temple

lundi 20 novembre 2006

Saddhu


Sadhu, in the northern gate, a very distinguished man, full of dignity

After praying.


After praying Ganesh...

Veil.


Pilgrim from North India...