Aarti Ceremony

Every day between 8 and 9 o' clock approximately, there is a ceremony in the temple of Meenaskshi. There is no exact starting time but, when it starts, time moves very quickly. Firstly, a bell strikes very loudly, echoing around the temple. Luckily, our guide knew all the shortcuts and told us where best to stand to get the best view. Thus began the procession along the road from the temple. The smell of incense, home-made sandalwood, candle wax and smoke is very intense. The priests, also called "holy men", move to Shiva in a sort of procession to the bedroom of his wife, sounding drums and flutes and further spreading the aroma of incense and wave a fan made of very long feathers.