Thiruvannamalai, a sacred town in Tamil Nadu, India, is renowned for its spiritual significance and the Arunachaleswarar Temple, one of the five primary temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple’s main deity, Arunachaleswarar, is believed to be a manifestation of the cosmic fire, represented by the Arunachala Hill, which dominates the town’s skyline.
Pilgrims from all over the world visit Thiruvannamalai to undertake the sacred circumambulation (Girivalam) of the Arunachala Hill, considered a powerful spiritual practice. The town is also home to the Sri Ramanashram, founded by the renowned sage Ramana Maharshi, who is revered for his teachings on self-inquiry.
Thiruvannamalai’s serene atmosphere, coupled with its rich spiritual traditions, makes it a popular destination for seekers of inner peace and spiritual enlightenment.
About the Series: Public Photo-Art Project 365 is an initiative by Ekalokam Trust for Photography (EtP) that collectively creates and preserves photographic visuals of the fast vanishing culture, landscape and lifestyle of South India. The first phase was done in Tiruvannamalai (2014-2015), with twenty four leading, emerging, and young National and International photographers having collectively created more than 3000 images of this ancient town. Visuals of everyday life, rare rituals, modern Tiruvannamalai town and its medieval temples remarkable for their architecture, modern religions like Islam and Christianity that have become part of the landscape for several centuries, the indigenous people, and their culture are part of the public archive. The print collection includes palladium, cyanotype, hand-colored digital/analogue prints as well as archival digital prints.