Cultural Capital. Madurai in the Evening, Tamil Nadu, India
Thoonga Nagaram, the City that Never Sleeps, is one of Madurai's nicknames. It's a huge place and draws many thousands of pilgrims to two famous shrines. Both date from the early 12th century CE. Probably most famous is the Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple with its huge towers and an amazingly large pond inside. It's dedicated to Meenakshi and her consort Shiva. Lots of ritual and ceremonies. Pilgrims every day flock to the bedding of the two gods in the evening and their wakening early the next morning.
The Kazimir Big Mosque (see bottom photo) calls to worship - as is the Muslim ritual - all through day and night. Both places of worship can be seen - and photographed, of course - in fascination from the rooftop of my hotel.
Cultural Capital. Madurai in the Evening, Tamil Nadu, India
Thoonga Nagaram, the City that Never Sleeps, is one of Madurai's nicknames. It's a huge place and draws many thousands of pilgrims to two famous shrines. Both date from the early 12th century CE. Probably most famous is the Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple with its huge towers and an amazingly large pond inside. It's dedicated to Meenakshi and her consort Shiva. Lots of ritual and ceremonies. Pilgrims every day flock to the bedding of the two gods in the evening and their wakening early the next morning.
The Kazimir Big Mosque (see bottom photo) calls to worship - as is the Muslim ritual - all through day and night. Both places of worship can be seen - and photographed, of course - in fascination from the rooftop of my hotel.