SOUTHERN INDIA

Coimbatore - wedding

The two-day wedding was rather exhausting for the wedding couple. The bride and groom spent hours performing various rituals, sitting in front of a fire, breathing smoke and sweating in the hot room. The groom is repeating prayers after a Brahman priest. The prayers are in Sanskrit and the groom does not even understand them. 

Jitka had her hand decorated by a mahndi (henna) artist. She has chosen Arabic motives that are traditionally done in black and red colors. 

The bride's sister helped us buy some appropriate clothes for the wedding

An afternoon tea with the bride's family. The woman of the house does not sit by the table. According to the Hindu tradition, she should eat only after her husband is finished. (From the left: Swetha's mother, Jitka, Swetha, her sister, Karthik, Swetha's farther)

Ooty

Wooden cars of a mountain train to Ooty are pushed up the steep hills by a steam engine locomotive

Some people need to use the cheapest building material available (Nilgiri Hills)

Women can carry almost anything on their heads (from water jars to bundles of brushwood) while keeping great elegance

Tea plantations were introduced to the Nilgiri Hills by the English

Nowadays, the Toda people live mostly in brick houses. Electricity is supplied to the mountain villages by seven hydroelectric power plants. Thus, as anywhere in the world, the traditionally isolated hill tribes are learning about the outside world from television.

Toda funeral includes a procession from the village to a traditional burial site

The funeral procession marches fast through pastures and over the hills. It does not stop along its 3km journey, not even when crossing a rocky stream

Hampi (Vijayanagar)

Hampi Bazaar used to be one of the busiest places of the half-million capitol of Vijayanagar kingdom. Structures on the side used to be rows of shelters for travelers and merchants who were selling their goods in the bazaar.

Achyuta temple was built at the end of Soolai Bazaar. It is one of the better preserved buildings.

Buildings around the Royal Palace were strongly influenced by Islamic architecture. This structure is called Elephant Stables and could have housed royal elephants.

Marek is studying history and architecture of Vijayanagar. A small bookstore in Hampi Bazaar has a good selection of English-language literature.

Various tribes live in the area surrounding Hampi. Some woman wear colorful clothes and lots of cheap jewelry that they are trying to sell to tourists.

Regular afternoon downpours are strong, but short

Bombay

Colorful bazaars in Bombay are sometimes placed in very rundown areas

Gateway of India (built in 1924) is one of the major landmarks of the city