As mentioned in yesterday's post, the temple chariot had to stop often in order for branches and telephone/electric wires to be lifted out of the way. A musician signaled for the procession to stop, with the chariot pushers putting on the brakes. Some women would place a pile of white granules right in front of the parked tires. I originally thought that was the coarse sugar candy given to me by one of the spectators, but one of my colleagues told me it was camphor. She explained that camphor is a natural insecticide, and by driving over the pile, the tires would spread the insect controller over the path. Although now more of a tradition, this repellent would have been espeically welcomed in rural areas as the chariot was rolled through the paths between fields. Also note the decorated tires and kolam design on the road.
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