'Ther' festival, Muththumari Amman Temple, Kudagama road, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The decorated wooden chariot - the 'Ther' - carrying an image of the Diety.

 The 'Ther' was a chariot made of wood, used by the legendary Deities and Kings of long ago. Its construction techniques goes back thousands of years and is still built by artisans specializing in the field.

'Thavil' - drum and the 'Nathaswaram' - The flute.

It needs years of apprentiship and practice to play the above instruments. Learning the 'Thaalas' and 'Raagas' of South Indian music takes a lifetime of learning.

Going to attend a 'Ther' festival, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The 'Thiruvilaa' ( 'Thiru'+'Ulaa' meaning 'the sacred perambulation' in Tamil) of the resident diety of a Hindu temple, takes place once an year. The image of the diety is placed on a wooden wheeled carved wooden chariot and is drawn on the main roads in the village. The 'Muththu Mari Amman' temple at Kudagama road, Avissawella, had this function a few days back. In the above two photos you see the female devotees arriving for the festival, carrying milk in brass pots as offering to the diety.

Ceylon of nearly 80 years ago.

The 'Rickshaw', 'Bukky karaththe' and 'Bara Karaththe's' in the Pettah, Colombo, the then center of commercial activity. You can see the tram-lines in the first picture.

Scenes from Sri Lanka.

3 wheel taxis called a 'wheel' down Matara way near a petrol shed in Rathnapura. They are the commonest modes of transport in present Sri Lanka. They are found at almost any road junction in any part of Sri Lanka. Costing Rs3 lakhs SL Rupees, roughly US$ 200, they do about 28 Km per litre. They are easy to maintain and can pick up speed fast but the 4 occupants have no protection in any accident.

Road traffic accidents in Colombo caught on Police CCTV cameras installed in the city. Click on link below:-

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktSXTfZe3Vo

An outdoor fire-place, Gampaha.

Flowers, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.