
In attendance has been over the past two years, a theatrical change in the clothing habits of the archetypal straight Chennai is. Where formerly all festival demanded a new sari and blouse for the women, today’s option is for the ever-present salwar - kameez or even the adaptable jeans. Present is, however, incredible charmingly tempting about the south Indian woman who knuckles down to the rites of tradition. Freshly, suffused at dawn, with the delicate perfume of sandalwood paste and jasmine
persistent on her skin, she knots a towel around her head to support her wet hair and dons the new clothes before puja commences. After she rubs down...