Mylapore

Strictly for #Madraslovers, #loveformadras #straighouttamadras #madaboutmadras

It’s never enough writing about Madras and its heritage. This post is one of the firsts in my blog to actually talk about a particular destination, where you end up being a tourist in your own city.

The heady smell of jasmine, the invigorating smell of coffee, the woody smell of rudrakshas coupled with the metal and bronze, the divine fragrance of incense sticks, the fresh smell of roots and vegetables — all rolled into one at North Mada Street, Mylapore. The street’s entrance on the Kapaleeshwar Temple tank’s end from the main road welcomes you with hawkers selling trinkets and flowers. As you walk down, you are spoilt for choice for a variety of different things. Mylapore is one of the locations in Chennai which still unapologetically wears the Old Madras look, thereby rendering richness to the city’s heritage.

North Mada Street is one place which never tires. It’s ever ready to seamlessly adapt to the festivity of the hour. The entire street of people gear up for the occasions without whining. During Navarathri, every inch of the street is filled with dolls for golu. As the season changes and progresses into Margazhi, the street lays out a thorough treat to the senses – both visual and olfactory. There’s the Kolam Festival where the whole stretch turns into a canvas – both residents and tourists begin drawing intricate Rangoli designs. And then there are these hawkers selling Manga Ingi (Ginger Mango), Mahani (Sarasparilla root), beads of stinging green pepper and gooseberry; all well arranged in a single hawker’s vehicle. The mixed fragrances of all the roots and spices put together makes you feel the taste of pickle in your tongue already.

Amidst all the din, the Kapaleeshwar Temple stands tall in the center, with all its grandeur – Siva Siva glowing bright and noticeable from all angles. An unintentional panoramic view of Lord Siva’s name, makes sure your mind is left with the chant – Siva Siva.

Pictures speak a thousand words – so here you go for some visual imagery of our very own Mylapore of Madras. 

Parcel

Story# 1 of the year: After a writing sabbatical ~ 3 years later~

Returning from Phoenix Market City on a busy Sunday evening. It’s business as usual for the pavement peddlers – 1 week into the plastic ban. Curious to see how the city is embracing the ban, I stopped by at a sweet corn vendor’s shop and asked for a packet to be parceled. Bang came the response – no parcel here. Well, I wasn’t too bothered either about taking home the sweet corn due to the disinterest in the peddler’s response. There could have been other ways employed, if not plastic, for him to pack the sweet corn up.

Walking a few steps forward, I found a “masala kadalai vendor”, this time I was determined to take home the “masala kadalai”, simply because it’s more appetizing than the timid sweet corn option. So the very first question I asked him was – “Anna, do you have parcel?” He was quick to respond with a smile – “Yes mam, but only paper”. Perfect. That’s all I was expecting. While waiting for the 2 parcels that I had ordered, the journalist brain in me was itching to ask how business has been, post the plastic ban. Even before I could ask him the question, he asked me in turn – “Mam, how do you perceive the plastic ban, do you welcome it?” I responded in the affirmative saying it is going to bring about a good change to the environment. The vendor appreciated the response and added on saying, “very nice to know that you youngsters are ‘for’ this plastic ban. This ban will surely make our environment cleaner. Plastic takes time to decompose, so this is good for all of us, including the animals!”

Happy with his response, the one thing I asked him was – “does this ban affect your business in any way?” He quipped quickly saying – “there’s no connection between that and this.” I thanked him for the parcels and said bye. 

The only regret though is, I forgot to ask for his name!

How amazing it is to see someone at the grass root level, being so aware of the environment and talks about eco-friendliness. I am not sure if this man is one of a kind, however, this random interaction turned out to be an educative and positive one!

Here’s to a plastic free Chennai!