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LAKSHMI V's Questions & Answers

in Chennai, Computers & Technology& Bangalore

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tell about chennai culture ?

Asked by kolam meena in Chennai at 1:59 PM on November 10, 2008

LAKSHMI V's Answer

Chennai is the known as the doorway to South India. This verifies the rich cultural heritage it boasts of. Having a cosmopolitan attribute, it is the mirror of all the diverse cultures, which are nourishing within its boundaries. But the beauty of it is that all the people reside in complete harmony with each other. During festival time, Chennai is swept by the waves of celebration and joy. People practice all the religious ceremonies and rites with utmost devotion. The glorious pat of the city shines by the means of monuments of the yore located here. Apart from this, Madras also preserves the traditional art forms of the past and still practices them in order to keep the tradition alive. This explains the spirit of Chennai, which by all means is a significant part of the Indian Heritage.

History
Chennai, formerly called Madras, has been present since times immemorial. Whatever is known about the capital city of Tamil Nadu, presently serves as the history of the modern city. Originally Chennai was a cluster of villages, perched amidst paddy fields, bordered by palm trees.

People
Chennai is a metropolitan city in the southern region of India. Due to the fast paced development taking place in the urban area, it has become the hub of all the major activities. This has attracted a huge influx of the people to Chennai for various purposes, such as employment, business, education etc.

Religions
Being a metropolitan city, Chennai houses a number of people from different religion and cultures. There is such a wide variety present here that it can be called one of the best examples of unity in diversity, in India. The most admirable feature of the city of Madras is that all the people live in perfect harmony.

Languages
Chennai is one of the fourth metropolitan cities of India and is also the capital of Tamil Nadu. This has brought many people to the city, from the all the corners of the nation. This influx can be attributed to the cosmopolitan character of the city which has given rise to a number of different languages being spoken.

Cuisine
Tamil Nadu is known for its hospitality and traditional food. People in the state are of the belief that serving food to others is a service to mankind. This fortifies the fact that your eating experience in the city will definitely be an unforgettable one.

Answered at 2:15 PM on November 10, 2008

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tell about chennai climate ?

Asked by kolam meena in Chennai at 2:00 PM on November 10, 2008

LAKSHMI V's Answer

Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, is situated in the tropical zone of climate. It is due to this reason that the city experiences a hot and humid weather. The city also experiences all the three major seasons of summers, winters and monsoons. However, there is very slight variation amongst all of them. This is due to its location near equator. As a result, Madras city experiences hot climate throughout the year. During the summer months, which are between March and October, the climate is extremely hot.

April and May are the hottest months of the year, with mercury crossing 40o C mark. The scorching heat of the sun is nearly unbearable restricting you to your houses. With a contrast, the places near the sea coast remain warm and humid. The cool breeze during the night time provides respite to the residents from the high temperature. During the monsoons, which means during the months of June to September, Chennai receives ample rainfall.

Monsoon arrives with the advent of the Northeast Monsoon Winds. The rain showers are a delight, as they wash away the heat of the otherwise hot climate. People are seen rejoicing in the rain, with umbrellas in their hands. Moreover, as the city is located near the sea side; it receives moderate rainfall of about 1,300 mm throughout the year. As a result, it is necessary to keep an umbrella handy, as you never know when you might need it.

The winters are very short lived in Chennai. They occur during the months of November to February. This is the most pleasant time of the year, best suited to visit the city. The average temperature of Madras at this time is around 24o C and never falls below 20o C. Winters also receive moderate rainfall, making the weather pleasurable and comfortable to roam around.

Answered at 2:15 PM on November 10, 2008

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what different languages do chennai people speak

Asked by kolam meena in Chennai at 2:01 PM on November 10, 2008

LAKSHMI V's Answer

Chennai is one of the fourth metropolitan cities of India and is also the capital of Tamil Nadu. This has brought many people to the city, from the all the corners of the nation. This influx can be attributed to the cosmopolitan character of the city which has given rise to a number of different languages being spoken. However, English is most widely spoken and is also preferred as the official language in Chennai. But, the major as well as the primary language of Chennai is Tamil.

Tamil is also the mother tongue of the region and is majorly spoken by the native people. Tamil language is an amalgamation of Tamil and English and also contains some words from Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi-Urdu. The people of Chennai are greatly in love with their mother tongue and prefer speaking the same. Tamil has accommodated words, grammar and suffixes from varied languages to invent new words.

However, the most profound influence seems to be that of English, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Telugu, Urdu, and Kannada. Besides, there is a notable Telugu-speaking minority in Chennai. Other languages spoken in the city are Malayalam, and Urdu. Chennai also houses a significant number of Marwari traders, Anglo Indian, Bengali, Punjabi and people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, who speak the respective languages of their regions.

Answered at 2:15 PM on November 10, 2008

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tell me about parathsarthy temple

Asked by kolam meena in Chennai at 2:04 PM on November 10, 2008

LAKSHMI V's Answer

To add some variety to your temple journey visit the Parthasarathy temple in Chennai. Though the common features of ancient temples are very much prevalent in this ancestral temple but it has some striking features, which makes the temple outstanding among others.

Journey to the Parthasarathy temple in Madras is very easy as it is situated in the heart of the Chennai city. Madras is the earlier name of the present Chennai city. Parthasarathy temple is in the Peter's Road, which is at Triplicane. You can visit this temple either by bus or auto rickshaw or by hired luxurious cabs. If you are going by auto rickshaw be careful about the fares. The standard charge for the auto rickshaws Rs. 8 for every kilometer you travel. Even if it is metered it is better to negotiate the fare first. The same concept applies for the luxurious cabs.

The Parthasarathy temple in Chennai has its origin back in 8th century. It was generally built by the Pallavas and later reformed by the Vijayanagar Kings during 11th century. The literal meaning of 'Parthasarathy' is the charioteer. According to the great Indian epic 'Mahabharata' 'Partha' meant Arjuna while sarathy is meant as charioteer. In the epic it is said during the great battle of Mahabharata Lord Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna. In the epic Arjuna or partha was a brave warrior and Lord Krishna was a good friend, philosopher and guide to the Partha or Arjuna.

Though the Parthasarathy temple is devoted to the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu the main deity is 'Lord Krishna' one of the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Also the other exquisite feature of this Parthasarathy temple is the colored gopuram. 'Gopuram' is said to the pyramidical shaped temple top which is a stereotyped feature of the South Indian temples.

Answered at 2:13 PM on November 10, 2008

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best places for shopping in chennai

Asked by kolam meena in Chennai at 2:02 PM on November 10, 2008

LAKSHMI V's Answer

Chennai, being one of the metropolitan cities of India, has a lot to offer to the tourists who come here. It is one of the most important commercial destinations in South India. So, if you are a shopping buff, you don't need to worry. There is a lot in store for you in the lanes of the ethnic city. This can be made out from the glitzy shopping malls in Madras. The new plazas have carved a niche for themselves amongst the shoppers. The old market places have been renovated to attract customers.

The growing competition between the shop keepers and the mall owners has proved to be a boon for the buyers. This has given them more variety and options to choose from. They also have a price range and quality variation to decide from. The crux of the matter is that Chennai is emerging to be a popular shopping destination, nearly a paradise for the shoppers. Amongst the conventional shopping places, there are emporiums, which offer traditional art and craft items picked from all over the state.

You can find items like Pattamara mats, Leaf handicrafts from Tirunellveli, Bronze and Brass castings and traditional jewelry from Kumbakonam, Metal works from Tanjavur and stone carvings from Mamallapuram and Silks from Kanchipuram. Apart from this, there are Government emporiums which offer a wide variety at fixed prices. Moreover, there is SIPA'S Craft link at Kodambakkam, which is a fair price shop, supporting local craftsmen. Besides, items like handicrafts and papier-mâché items can also be bought at reasonable prices.

Answered at 2:14 PM on November 10, 2008

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tell me about Vadapalani Temple

Asked by kolam meena in Chennai at 2:03 PM on November 10, 2008

LAKSHMI V's Answer

Speaking about the temples we would like to give you all the different types of temples situated in and around Chennai. It will help to make your travel list in and around Madras. Also after knowing all the information about the city you can decide the travel list and discuss it with the family members so that the tastes and preferences of the whole family is highlighted. In this section as we are speaking about temples so over here we will be giving you information about a famous temple of Chennai which is known as the Vadapalani temple.

Traveling to the Vadapalani temple is quite easy as it is situated in the Andavar Koil Street in Chennai. You can just hire any local transport like a luxurious cab, or a 'call taxi' or the cheap auto rickshaws. The auto rickshaws are quite troublesome in terms of the negotiation of fares. Even if they are metered it better to settle the fare first and then begin your travel. You can also hire an call taxi or the luxurious cabs and complete your Chennai city tour in a day. For hiring the call taxis you need to call and fix your travel-tour.

The main deity of the Vadapalani temple is Lord Muruga. This ancient temple has its origin some 125 years back and also it has an interesting history behind it. Primarily the Muruga deity resided in a humble thatched roof shed and the god was worshipped in the form of a painted picture. A humble worshipper of Muruga named as Annaswami Tambiran worshipped this painted picture of Muruga with the help of all his limited offerings.

Answered at 2:14 PM on November 10, 2008

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tell me about kapaleeswar temple

Asked by kolam meena in Chennai at 2:05 PM on November 10, 2008

LAKSHMI V's Answer

Visiting to temples can serve many purposes. It just depends on your preference. Like if you are curious to know about the ancient culture of Hindus you can visit temples. If you are give some spiritual touch to your tour then you can also visit the temple. Also if you want to understand ancient India with all its political, cultural principles then also you can tour to the temples. So if any of these topics are your interest then in your Chennai temple tour list you can add a visit to the Kapaleeswarar temple in Chennai

The Kapleeswarar temple is situated in Kutchery Road, Mylapore. Mylapore is located in the city of Madras. So you can tour to this temple either by auto rickshaw or 'call taxis' or the deluxe cabs. If you are hiring auto rickshaw, which is the cheapest mode of transport, you need to negotiate the fare carefully. The standard charge for auto rickshaws is Rs.8 for every kilometer you travel. The call taxis charge higher but they are very prompt service and they will pick you up from your doorstep. You can also tour by deluxe cabs. If you prefer you can drive the deluxe cabs yourself.

The Kapleeswarar temple is an emblem of Dravidian style and architecture. The notable feature of this structure is the 37-meter tall gopuram i.e. the pyramidical shaped temple top trying to touch the ultimate cool blue-sky surface which is spread all over the universe. As you enter the temple you can view a sculpture, which has an interesting story behind it. It is believed that a saint known as Gnanasambandar sung and brought a dead girl back to life.

The goddess Parvati is believed to be the wife of Shiva according to the Hindu religious belief. Here in this Kapaleeshwarar temple you can view goddess Parvati been depicted as peacock and she is worshipping the lingam or the idol of Lord Shiva. You can also see the bronze carvings of the 63-Shaivate saints, which are carried in procession during the Aruvathumoovar festival, which is held in March-April. In the courtyard of the temple there is a holy Punnai tree, which is one of the oldest trees of Chennai city.

Answered at 2:13 PM on November 10, 2008

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tell me about adeeswar temple ?

Asked by kolam meena in Chennai at 2:08 PM on November 10, 2008

LAKSHMI V's Answer

Adeeswar Temple
Your travel to Chennai should be a blend of all sights. It ranges from ancestral rich history to modern glamorous pubs and shopping malls. Here we are going to give you information on one such sight. Though it is spiritual but it is also necessary as travel tour are meant for relief to the body and soul from all the humdrums of daily life. In this section you will get details of a famous Jain temple in Madras.

Travelling to the Adeeshwar temple in Madras is not a tiring journey as it is only 9 km away from the Chennai city. Don't get confused by the names of Chennai and Madras. Madras is the earlier name of the present Chennai city. You can either travel by bus or auto rickshaw. If you prefer you can choose the deluxe coaches. Though the rates of deluxe coaches are higher you can drive yourself if you choose. While travelling by auto rickshaw be careful about the rates. Fix the rates first before you begin your travel. The standard charge is Rs.8 for every kilometer.

The Adeeswar temple is situated in Polal village, which is in the Grand Trunk Road i.e. the highway road connecting Chennai to its nearby states. The Polal village is been laid down near the Redhill Lake, which flows near the Polal village. It is believed that the temple was constructed in the first century B.C. According to the legends Valluvar who was staying in Mylapore at the early years of the A.D. century is a concentrated devotee of this principal god of Jains situated in the Adeeswar temple.

The principal shrine in this temple is the Rishabhadev, and the first Tirthankar of Jainism. During the earlier years the Polal village was flocked with the followers of Jainism and it was developing immensely. Still now you can see the Vaishnavas at almost every corner of the village.

Answered at 2:12 PM on November 10, 2008

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tell about Vivekananda House & Museum in chennai

Asked by kolam meena in Chennai at 1:00 PM on November 10, 2008

LAKSHMI V's Answer

The state government had leased this building to Sri Ramakrishna Mission. It is an imposing structure on the Marina beach along the South Beach Road. In 1897 Swami Vivekananda visited this city and stayed in this historic building in the year 1897 on his way to Calcutta, after his acclaimed speech at Chicago for the Parliament of Religions. The Government took over the building in 1930 and in 1963 it was named after Vivekananda. Photographs depicting the historical happenings associated with his life and books about him and his own written works are on display and sold here in the Museum.

Answered at 1:46 PM on November 10, 2008

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tell me about kandaswamy temple ?

Asked by kolam meena in Chennai at 2:07 PM on November 10, 2008

LAKSHMI V's Answer

If religious history is your interest then visit the Kandaswamy temple in Chennai. Visiting the Kandaswamy temple will not only give you a clear picture of the ancient religious history but also it will give some details on the political scenario of the ancient times.

The Kandaswamy temple is situated in Cheyyur, and the nearby town to Cheyyur is Madurantakam. Cheyyur is 29 kms away from Madurantakam. Reaching from Chennai previously called, as Madras to Cheyyur is quite interesting for travel-lovers. You can reach Kandaswamy temple in Cheyyur from Chennai either by bus, rail or road. The nearest railway station to Cheyyur is the Chenglepattu. And from there you can take either taxis or any other luxurious vehicle to Cheyyur. Also from Madurantakam, the nearby town towards Cheyyur you will get private cabs and frequent buses.

The origin of the village of Cheyyur where Kandaswamy temple is situated has an ancestral story. The village was built during the reign of Veera Rajendra Chola and Kulothungan-III. With the settlement of the village Cheyyur they built three temples among which the kandaswamy temple is the one. The other two temples are dedicated to Vanmikhanathar i.e. Lord Siva, and the other one to Perumal or (Kariya Manicka Perumal)

The Kandaswamy temple is in between the Shiva and Vishnu temples. Lord Kandaswamy or Shiva is the principal shrine of this temple. There are also the shrines of Lord Someswara, Goddess Meenakshi and Muthukumaraswamy, which is also called as Samharamurthy. There are also many other deities like the Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy and Chandikeswara. You can also see the deity of Murga who is the other son of Lord Shiva. The Murga deity is been standing on five different positions. These five postures are called by distinct names like - Nrutta Skandar (dancing Muruga), Brahma Sastha (created from Brahma), Balaskandar (child Shanmuga), Sivagurunathar (as teacher to Siva) and Pulinthar (vedan hunter).

This Kandaswamy temple of Chennai is notable for the outsiders to visit because of the different figures standing in distinct postures. This temple has not only the depictions of deities, which is general feature in the temples. You can get the image of Kazhukundran who had made an artful creation of a temple car in 1521 A.D. It is used during the Skanda Sashti festival.

Answered at 2:13 PM on November 10, 2008

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