DMK Chief M Karunanidhi Passes Away

M Karunanidhi, the leader of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), breathed his last in Kauvery Hospital in Chennai.

This blog contains 15 photos shot in Chennai, before the formal announcement of Karunanidhi's death was made.

Location : Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

Photos shot in August 2018.

All photos © S Srikant.

Supporters with portraits of M Karunanidhi in front of Kauvery Hospital in Mylapore, Chennai, where the party chief was admitted.

A journalist holds up the press release issued by Kauvery Hospital, Chennai. It says that the condition of M Karunanidhi is extremely critical and unstable.

Women break down in front of Kauvery Hospital, Chennai.

A woman gestures amid tears.

A man displays portraits of the DMK leader in Chennai. The banner in the background assures M Karunanidhi supporters of his well-being.

DMK supporters shout slogans hailing M Karunanidhi outside Kauvery Hospital in Chennai.

A supporter passionately hails party chief M Karunanidhi.

Men in anguish as they mourn the worsening health of DMK leader M Karunanidhi, in Chennai.

A woman cries outside Kauvery Hospital, Chennai.

Women cry inconsolably at the deteriorating health of DMK leader M Karunanidhi, outside Kauvery Hospital in Mylapore, Chennai.

A man gestures in support of his leader.

Men expressing their support for M Karunanidhi in Chennai.

Men expressing their support for M Karunanidhi in Chennai.

The crowd at the intersection of Luz Church Road and CP Ramaswami Road, outside Kauvery Hospital in Mylapore, Chennai.

A man writing a tribute to M Karunanidhi in Tamil, in Luz Church Road in Mylapore, Chennai.

Pro-Tamil Groups Attempt to Disrupt IPL

The 2018 season of Indian Premier League (IPL) returned to Chennai after 3 years. There was excitement among the cricket community and fans. But pro-Tamil groups had planned protests against conducting IPL when people of Tamil Nadu wanted Cauvery Management Board (CMB) to be constituted by a reluctant central government.

This blog contains 16 photos from the agitation that took place in Chennai.

As a result of this protest, the home matches of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were moved out of Chennai. It was a big blow for the fans who had already missed the team for 2 seasons due to a ban. IPL being pulled into politics was unfortunate and shameful.

Location : Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

Photos shot in April 2018.

All photos © S Srikant.

Saravanan Hari, a popular fan of Chennai Super Kings, saying that he was assaulted by workers belonging to Naam Tamilar Katchi. Photo taken outside MA Chidambaram Stadium in Walajah Road in Chepauk, Chennai.

Demonstrators holding what they claim to be the Tamil Nadu flag, in front of Triplicane police station, Chennai.

Members of Tamil outfit Mukkulathor Pulipadai being taken away in police vehicle in Chennai.

A man waves the "flag of Tamil Nadu" while being detained by police while another man displays it from a window.

People holding "Tamil Nadu flag" and Naam Tamilar Katchi flag shout slogans against Indian Premier League in Walajah Road, Chennai.

Demonstrators attempt to block Walajah Road to stop a police vehicle carrying their colleagues.

A man gestures from a vehicle after courting arrest in Chennai.

Members of Tamilnadu Kongu Ilaignar Peravai, led by their leader U Thaniyarasu (centre, in whites) demonstrate against IPL in Walajah Road, Chennai.

Agitators getting detained.

A police van gets ready to depart with arrested protestors in Chennai.

A protestor addresses the media from the footboard of a police van.

An agitator talks to the media against holding IPL matches in Chennai, before being detained by police. Photo taken at the intersection of Walajah Road and Anna Salai in Chennai.

Protestors with the so-called flag of Tamil Nadu shout slogans atop and around Anna statue at the intersection of Walajah Road and Anna Salai in Chennai.

A supporter of Chennai Super Kings (centre) getting hounded by cadres of Naam Tamilar Katchi in Anna Salai, Chennai, after he was forced to remove his team shirt. The shirt was set on fire.

Portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi being burnt by agitators in Anna Salai, Chennai. The stick being used to burn the photo is actually a CSK flag seized from a fan.

Riot police moves in to contain the agitators in Walajah Road, Chennai.

Thaipusam

Thaipusam is a festival dedicated to Lord Murugan. It occurs in the Tamil month Thai, and pusam is the name of a star.

There are numerous legends associated with the origin of Thaipusam, the most popular one being it was the occasion when Goddess Parvati presented a spear (Tamil : vel) to her son Murugan to kill the demon Soorapadman. Thaipusam signifies the victory of good over evil.

This blog contains 20 photos shot in Palani and Shanmuganathi.

The Murugan temple in Palani is arguably the most famous hill temple in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is formally known as Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Temple and lies at the foot of the Western Ghats. Dhandayuthapani is another name for Palani Murugan.

Location : Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu.

Photos shot in January 2018.

All photos © S Srikant.

Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Temple atop the hill in Palani. The Western Ghats can be faintly seen in the background.

Devotees of Lord Murugan dance on their way to Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Temple on the occasion of Thaipusam in Palani.

A man and a girl dance while carrying kavadis on the occasion of Thaipusam in Palani. A kavadi is a structure made of wood and decorated with religious symbols, colourful cloths, peacock feathers and flowers. The dancing ritual shown in the photo is known as kavadi attam in Tamil.

A group of people known as siddhars recite hymns.

Kavadi attam (dancing with kavadi) being performed by devotees during Thaipusam in a road in Palani.

Pilgrims walk with kavadis and milk pots during Thaipusam in Palani.

A tonsured devotee prays in Shanmuganathi.

A woman dances to the beats of drums in Shanmuganathi.

A woman goes into trance during a ritual in Shanmuganathi.

Kavadi being mounted on a devotee in Shanmuganathi.

Women making kolam (drawings made with wet rice flour) to welcome a temple car procession in a street in Palani during Thaipusam.

The temple car (ratham or ther) as it gets pulled.

Chettiar women dancing in circle formation in Palani.

A woman dances to the beats of drums on the day of Thaipusam in Palani.

Men getting tonsured during Thaipusam in Palani.

Men getting tonsured during Thaipusam in Palani.

A man pulls a cart by piercing his back with hook during Thaipusam in Palani.

A pilgrim praying by lighting camphor in Palani.

A man breaks a coconut as offering to Lord Murugan in Palani.

The Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Temple hill in Palani.