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Album: By Country | By Date India | April 2001 < Prev: Kodaikanal (Kodai) | Next: Tirumala >
Travelogue: By Country | By Date India | April 2001  

April 2001 - Chennai (Madras)

The Government Museum and a festival to commemorate the birthday of Thiagaraja (a venerated composer, but you knew that!)

View out our hotel window at Chennai Courtyard of the Government Museum Statues in the Government Museum
Maggie and a friend Maggie and another friend The Government Museum Damp crocodiles
Sri Thiagaraja Sangeetha Vidwath Samajam temple. Thiagaraja (1767 - 1847) was one of three famous composers of kirtanas and ragas in Telugu, the state language of the next state over - Andhra Pradesh. Many of them are in praise of Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu. He (and his devotees) believe you can reach salvation through devotional music.
Here's a picture of the guy These performances were part of a birthday celebration for Thiagaraja There weren't many people here. Monica saw the listing for the festival in the paper and set off to find it. She and the boys were the only non-Indians there - but that has been the case for most of the places we've visited in India so far. Offerings of food. Though Thiagaraja is not a saint or god, it seems he is venerated in similar manner
Performers and jasmine garland Another temple across the street Part of the unknown temple