...then the music is too loud. I deciphered this yesterday. Living next to a Mariamman temple is injurious to health. Or at least to your hearing. Definitely injurious to hearing. Already my hearing isn't the greatest to begin with. And with the loudspeakers in the neighborhood blaring for a week straight now, day and night, it cannot be good. Then you've got your airhorns blasting, whistles blowing in your ears on the bus, etc. It's a recipe for premature deafness.
I knew that Mariamman temples were notorious for ear-splitting music at festival times. Nevertheless, I have located myself near one. Chellapandi warned me about the noise. It's funny because over the last week it's been really loud and annoying, especially because they are planning the same high-pitched and squeaky song sung by a grandma over and over again until the late hours of the night. But I actually thought, "This isn't so bad!" Well, I spoke too soon. Yesterday evening when I came home, they had set up the REAL speakers all throughout the neighborhood. And they've set up a command station close by to the temple so that experts can monitor the sound output 24/7 in case there is any danger of some malcontent like me sneaking up and turning the volume down to a semi-tolerable level.
My house, made of a solid slab of concrete, has been shaking at the foundations. And tonight only they are going to "start" the festival! I laughed when they told me this. Last night I almost ran away to a hotel. Largely from the noise, but also because it was the absolute hottest night I have thus far experienced on this trip. Unbearable. The thought of air conditioning is titillating to say the least.
It's not just foreigners/wusses like me who cannot bear the ear-splitting noise. It turns out that a lot of Indians don't like it either, which leads me to wonder why on earth they do it? Last night while the house was vibrating I was feeling frustrated, especially once midnight started to roll around, but I started to think that perhaps the degree of volume from these speakers is comparable to the amount of faith people have in Mariamman. I think this is some way of showing devotion to her, so I got myself calmed down by thinking this way. Furthermore, Tamilarasi pointed out that it has been scientifically proven that music makes plants grow better. For this festival they are growing sprouts in some secret location next to the temple, and the height and health of these sprouts at the end of the festival will provide some indication of Mariamman's dis/satisfaction with the people. Tamilarasi is right about the research on music facilitating plant growth, but if I recall correctly it was CLASSICAL music, and it probably wasn't played at a deafening volume. I'm surprised that these sprouts don't shrivel up a die on the spot.
Tonight there is a procession, and I look forward to seeing this. Women have been growing sprouts in vessels for the past few days. Tonight they will be carrying them on their heads in the procession. According to Tamilarasi, those with the tallest, healthiest sprouts will be praised as virtuous. Those with sprouts of pitiful growth will feel shame.
I knew that Mariamman temples were notorious for ear-splitting music at festival times. Nevertheless, I have located myself near one. Chellapandi warned me about the noise. It's funny because over the last week it's been really loud and annoying, especially because they are planning the same high-pitched and squeaky song sung by a grandma over and over again until the late hours of the night. But I actually thought, "This isn't so bad!" Well, I spoke too soon. Yesterday evening when I came home, they had set up the REAL speakers all throughout the neighborhood. And they've set up a command station close by to the temple so that experts can monitor the sound output 24/7 in case there is any danger of some malcontent like me sneaking up and turning the volume down to a semi-tolerable level.
My house, made of a solid slab of concrete, has been shaking at the foundations. And tonight only they are going to "start" the festival! I laughed when they told me this. Last night I almost ran away to a hotel. Largely from the noise, but also because it was the absolute hottest night I have thus far experienced on this trip. Unbearable. The thought of air conditioning is titillating to say the least.
It's not just foreigners/wusses like me who cannot bear the ear-splitting noise. It turns out that a lot of Indians don't like it either, which leads me to wonder why on earth they do it? Last night while the house was vibrating I was feeling frustrated, especially once midnight started to roll around, but I started to think that perhaps the degree of volume from these speakers is comparable to the amount of faith people have in Mariamman. I think this is some way of showing devotion to her, so I got myself calmed down by thinking this way. Furthermore, Tamilarasi pointed out that it has been scientifically proven that music makes plants grow better. For this festival they are growing sprouts in some secret location next to the temple, and the height and health of these sprouts at the end of the festival will provide some indication of Mariamman's dis/satisfaction with the people. Tamilarasi is right about the research on music facilitating plant growth, but if I recall correctly it was CLASSICAL music, and it probably wasn't played at a deafening volume. I'm surprised that these sprouts don't shrivel up a die on the spot.
Tonight there is a procession, and I look forward to seeing this. Women have been growing sprouts in vessels for the past few days. Tonight they will be carrying them on their heads in the procession. According to Tamilarasi, those with the tallest, healthiest sprouts will be praised as virtuous. Those with sprouts of pitiful growth will feel shame.
Temple at night.
These are the speakers which have been put up all around the area. Here's a huge sign announcing the festival and featuring the faces of the important people who are sponsors of the festival, and who are perhaps graciously supplying the speakers. I sort of felt sorry for the many cattle that were tied up next to the speakers. Then I surmised that they are most likely deaf by now so the noise mustn't bother them whatsoever.
The bus stop in Mullai Nagar. I spend a lot of time here each day, waiting. 
A very nice full moon last night.
My new "bed". Think glorified lawn chair.
Due to a minor security breach of late, I went out yesterday to purchase a bureau, which is considered essential here for safeguarding valuables. I dropped about $50 on this thing so hopefully it can keep thieves out. It has a lock box, featuring an image of the god Tirupati, and it also features two "secret" lockboxes. I really don't think they are that secret, however, considering that every bureau of decent quality in this country comes with these exact same features. The girls at the shop offered to change the Tirupati picture to one of Jesus, but I declined. Was nice of them to offer, however.
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