Skip to main content

'Colors and The Cultures' – Exploring the shopping streets of Central Chennai


     The air is filled with sounds of varied decibels, making the humid wind more dense. With the density of humidity we sense the proximity to the sea and with the density of multilingual sounds, we sense the proximity to one of Chennai’s most happening places-Parrys corner. Located in central Chennai, it is home to varied races, cultures, languages and history. The Indo-Saracenic facades of the buildings are living reminders of the beginning of time when the Majestic Madarasapattinam started welcoming cultural intrusions, not to take over the existing ones, but for co-living in peace.

     Over time, many cultures have found their home in the Central Business District (CBD) of Chennai opening the doors to exploring a varied range of food, clothing and events. Number of narrow streets named after contrastingly different sects of people, right from the West of India to the southern end, reflect the mixture of settlements. Each street is unique with its inherent style & variety of goods.

     As we walk through the streets from the famous ‘Pookadai Police Station’ node, one could get hold of all daily needs such as Fruits, vegetables etc. along the main road making it reachable for the busy passerby population. The rest who reach the place in search of specifics could get a glimpse of the entire linear street’s nature right from the main road lane. Busy students find their ways through the stationery points of  Bunder street while the patient shopaholics enjoy treading all the way from Godown street to the interior lanes of Mint street.

      Sowcarpet, the ultimate destination for the modern ‘Chennaite’, could thoroughly satisfy the foodie and shopaholic parts of a female’s heart. The potpourri of colours and patterns could literally bewitch the eyes. While the eyes run though all the possible visuals, the mind does its own financial calculations. The bright side is, one can find all possible ranges and trends within those streets. Be it the traditional handworks for the festive look or the Luxurious lehengas for the Bridal one, every single pattern is liberally distributed along the display in the glass storefronts.


     After the hot Chennai sun drains the energy out of us, we can anytime rely on the roadside kiosks for an energy recharge. Beverages could help for a quick boost while the panipuris or the famous ‘murukku sandwich’ with its delicious green chutney loaded with cheese could give a treat for the tastebuds, enhance the mood and make oneself all set to browse more. One could also catch a colorful rickshaw to browse around and save the energy.

     While browsing, get ready to move through the crowd, manage multilingual slangs and get a glimpse of every little shop possible. Don't be startled to come across your favourite Youtubers doing their Vlogs along the streets. Also, overcome the claustrophobia & get into even the tiniest of the streets to reach out to the famous boutique shops humbly nestled in the narrow streets such as Chinna Naicken street.

     The comfy & enclosed interiors diverts the mind from realising the setting sun. As twilight hits, the streets light up to meet the undying energy in people movement. The light stays on all along to compete with the moonlight.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chennai's first immersive experience: The Real Van Gogh as a Photoessay

Immersive art opens up a whole new dimension. Being to the Van Gogh immersive experience made me actualize this in real time, with the life-size visuals of Vincent van Gogh's masterpieces. The brush strokes of his post-impressionist style and the signature Prussian Blue (Bleu de Prusse) of his palette left me spellbound, bringing me more closer to art than ever. The way his earlier works captured the emotions of the people he drew and the way he personified such emotions into art in his later ones, certainly stirred me, as an onlooker. I'm extending that feeling--that experience to you through this photoessay: The Van Gogh world nestled in the middle of a happening place in the city.  My lens capturing twelve sunflowers in the frame ( "and nothing else" ) to reminisce the 1888 painting by the name.  The tale of "The man who painted sunflowers" The impressionist brush strokes never missi
Post a Comment
Explore »

10 Things to know before choosing B.Arch

UNMASKING THE ARCHITECTURE COURSE In today’s digital era, both conceptions and misconceptions about subject accumulate so heavily that one gets convinced. In the subject of academics and education, it’s hard to look past the marketing to get to the truth. ASK. Trust humans , ask people in the line. While Architecture is all about the clichés around creativity and the NATA scores on the outside, it is so much more from the inside. Image source 1. Architecture isn’t all about the sketches that get you past NATA. The qualifying examination for Architecture, NATA, involves both drawing skills and aptitude. The challenge with the exam is the understanding of perception and logic that reflect with your hand’s skills- How well you can bring your imagination into a visually comprehensive work. This is the first step, an evergreen part of Architectural life, yet not the dominant one as it might seem in the 1 st year of architectural course. Architecture is holistic.   2. The
Post a Comment
Explore »

How to cope with the loss of a loved one

We all love and breathe by the language of love. As humans, we possess an innate quality to share and shower love on our fellow beings. But when the life of such loved ones end, our whole world turns upside down. Life suddenly starts to lose its meaning and it becomes harder and harder to express or share how you feel to the others. There is anger, pain and hopelessness all around you, but it all comes down to the bitter realisation that life must go on.  We must learn to rise back and live life, for that is the dream our loved ones have always had for us. We must take care of ourselves, along with the others around us who share our grief. That's where the loss gets honoured. Even though there are million reasons, convincing enough to take life forward, it may all seem standstill. The haywire emotions may stop you from thinking straight, but remember to fight it. We must remember to fight for our own wellbeing and dedicate ourselves for understanding and actualizing the
Post a Comment
Explore »