Tiruvannamali - Shiva festival

We arranged to meet at 11am outside our hotel. Some were incredibly punctual (well done Einet and shuky!) while others not mentioning any names, Chad, we still in bed at 1130.
We were off in good time though, passing small villages and colourful temples. Women in multi coloured saris brightening up the green/grey landscape, picking rice from the rice paddies.
Wild traffic as usual, swerving in and out of other beaches, never slowing down slower than 25kph (until we stopped at our destination)
We went to see the religious rituals that happen once a year here on the the full moon. Hindu devotees come here to celebrate the life of Shiva, either climbing the imposing mountain that dominates  the town or walking the 14 Kms around it.

We arrived in the town and went for lunch just opposite where we had parked, all ordering different meals, causing obvious confusion to the waiting staff.

After filling up, we set out to tackle the walk up the mountain. Apparently, a four hour return trip. the views were absolutely amazing and we gained a lot of height quite quickly, leaving the noise and smells of the town behind us.
Mt. Arunachalswar started off quite steep, with people living on the path a good way up the hillside.

We were, inevitably, joined by an Indian guy who wanted to guide us up and around the mountain - into religious caves and past temples.

We got close to the top (after passing a terribly smooth, steep, shear rock face that was slippery and shiny with rain that had fallen a few minutes earlier) and then realised that we still had quite a way to go before getting to the top. The sun would be going down soon, so we decided that we would start to go back down again as it was staring to rain "no! no rain!! you can make it to the top!" our wonderful 'guide' tried to convince us, despite the rain pouring down his face.
We decided to ignore his advice and go back.
The rock face that we had tackled a few meters earlier was even more slipperly thanks to the down pour, but much less daunting than before as I followed some other Indians AROUND it, instead of following our 'guide' across the stupid thing.
Our 'guide' had latched onto us, I suspected , for money. As usual. He was really frustrating me, stressing me out on this rock face and directing us without being asked. I should say though that I d regret snapping at him a few times as when we had arrived at the bottom of the mountain, he jumped onto his moped and without saying goodbye, rode off! we were all really stunned to see him go, but not surprised when he found us again later...but still not asking for money!

After a well deserved Chai, a new guide found us, and took us to an Ashram. We had a look round, but I didn't really understand the whole thing, so left quite soon.
We all left the Ashram and started to walk back into town. Maurice passed a woman, who on seeing a cow next to her doing a wee, caught some of it mid flow and 'blessed' herself in it showering Maurice with cow wee. Hilarious!!
We arrived back in town and after a little break at a roadside cafe were were off again, joining the masses entering the temple.
Absolutely stunning structure - one of the largest in India. It has four large towers (?) in absolute symmetry and covered with carvings of all the gods and deities. The art , the colour, carvings, and consistency of everything in the temple just amazes me!.
A few of us walked around the temple, through one of the towers where we watched devotees lining up for blessings and prayers around the centre piece of a sculpted Shiva statue.
After a while we exited the temple from a different direction and walked back barefooted through the streets (and cow poo) to the car. Once we were all back it was getting late so we started to make our way back.

So that was our trip. I slept most of the way back, occasionally jumping at the sound of laughter from behind us in the car from our new friends.
Beautiful.