We can no longer have very large “viLakku”s or lamps at home, because polisihing them and maintaining them are quite a chore; but at least in wedding halls or kalyana mantapas, we still have large and beautiful lamps, lit with wicks and oil, and burning brightly.

http://bangalore.metblogs.com/archives/2007/05/automessages.phtml

Today’s birding was not of the best; managed to get a shot of this Purple-Rumped Sunbird with a little insect in its mouth:

Sunrise, today, over the J P Nagar Reserve Forest.

“Marapaachi Bommai (dolls)” is what I know them as. These wooden dolls have always been around, and at weddings, they are decorated and put on show as part of the wedding festivities. Here’s a beautiful “couple” of Marapaachi wood, all dressed up at a wedding I attended last week: