Chennai Photos

Chennai – Traffic + Construction

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/krishnashrinivas/ChennaiTrafficConstruction

Two things apparent in chennai are the traffic congestions & the construction activity. Traffic has increased manifold - the city is reacting to it by constructing over passes to aid the flow of traffic in key junctions. There are a whole bunch of high rises coming up - both commercial as well as residential.

Koyambedu flower bazaar + the flower supply chain

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/krishnashrinivas/KoyambeduFlowerBazaarTheFlowerSupplyChain

The flower business in South India is especially unique. Flowers are used for a couple major purposes –

1. To adorn the hair of women in the form of different flower decorations &


2. As offerings to God - the deities in the temples as well as homes are decorated with a variety of flowers –

The supply chain is unique – the Koyambedu flower bazaar is at the heart of this unique supply chain and is a sight worth seeing in Chennai

Glimpses of Chennai's Retail

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/krishnashrinivas/GlimpsesOfChennaiSRetail

It’s commonly said that 98% of India's retail is unorganized - this set of photos attempts to show what that statement means – things used on a daily basis, from FMCG to high end CE is retailed by a variety of small to medium unorganized retail stores. Often, the businesses portrayed are the only vocation of the families behind it – the lack of formal education denying the ability to obtain a job and/ or the need to eke a living is the driver behind the business. Despite the unorganized nature & the mind boggling inefficiencies underneath it, the small retailer still seems to fare well with his/ her venture and is able to sustain a living – granted the lifestyles of such entrepreneurs may be considered below par with respect to western standards.

Other adhoc photos from around Chennai

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/krishnashrinivas/ChennaiPhotos

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My article, that I wrote a couple years ago - has been featured on wikihow.com and viewed more than 60K times .. 

How to Wear a Pancha Kachcham

The pancha kachcham (panja kacham or kacham) is a form of wearing the dhoti, typically worn by grihasthas (men who are married) on special occassions such as poojas or festivals. It is typically a 8 or 9 yard dhoti worn in a specific woven way.

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Chennai - under construction

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After 10 days in Chennai, there are a couple things that are apparent. Chennai is under construction - several flyovers (bridges between roads - for free flow of traffic) have already been constructed. I remember the days when some of these projects were criticized as money making schemes for the politicians - but these have come in handy when there are more cars & much more cars on the road.

There are automobiles of every kind Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, Tata, Maruti and ofcourse the inimitable India's own Ambassadors. The traffic is unruly in a typical India cum Chennai way. Travelling in the past 10 days has required considerable planning for delays due to traffic jams - a jam feels inevitable .. even on a Sunday..

Sundays are even worse with the hard working folk out with their families.

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