It is not unusual to walk down the streets in Little India and see offerings of flowers being placed onto statues by the devotees.
I just had to include a photo of MUSTAFA'S, which is a 7 floor store in Little India that carries everything from food to luggage to gold chains and bath items. My friend likened it to "a Walmart on drugs". It is open 24 hours a day and is so busy and so crowded you cannot even push a shopping cart down the aisles! We spent six hours in there and came out alive...!
Photo taken of one of the temples in Little India
Inside the temple, one of the devotees lay face down to pray
This is one of the head haunchos inside the temple. They are the only ones who can enter the inner room(back behind him) and take the people's offerings, where they are blessed. He then comes out and blesses the person. As is the true inquisitive nature of women, we were innocently wondering whether or not these fellas were wearing anything under their wrapped towels? (shame on us!) Our question was quickly answered after he turned around to walk back up the steps, and his towel became caught in his butt cheeks! :) 
Check out the statue in the background! How many appendages does this "god" have?
This is what it looks like inside the temple (zoom in)
People would stop and pray to this statue too. They cut limes in half and scoop out the insides and fill them with oil to burn. The flower garlands really are pretty.
Outside the BIG temple in LITTLE India
Kasey and her friend Lacy liked the tour except for all the walking!
Kasey volunteered to be the model for the sarees that the Indian women wear. The fabric is about 6 meters long and has to be draped around and tucked in at the waist. Notice the dot on her forehead! The color of the dot is used to reveal their marital status. Red is supposed to mean they are married, while a black dot means they are single. It seems to me that this would cut to the chase for single people who are looking for a partner and eliminate a lot of what ifs!!!!By the way, Kasey chose a PINK dot to coordinate with her saree. The shopowner said that a lot of the young girls are choosing colored dots to be more fashionable. Okay that would really confuse the male species, now wouldn't it?
I think we should send this photo to Vogue magazine! :)
Kasey and her friend both got henna tattoos on their hands, which is what a lot of the young Indian women do, especially in preparation for their wedding ceremony. They can be quite elaborate!
Flower stalls were abundant in Little India. They are used as offerings at the temples.
Fruit stalls lined the streets. Some of these fruits and vegetables I have never seen or heard of before! Some of them they claimed to be aphrodisiacs. (no I did not buy any!) There were also little shops that sold spices, and they would grind the whole spices for you. Between the pungent spices and the smell of curry food stalls everywhere, it was quite the experience for my olfactory glands! We also saw lots and lots of gold for sale, as well as silks and pashmina shawls and beautiful table linens. Indians love gold because it symbolizes purity. Young Indian girls are given gold pieces at birth and every year thereafter for just about any and every occasion up until their wedding, so that they can save it in the event that they someday find themselves widowed, at which point they can pawn their jewelry if they choose.
This poster was just across the street from Mustafa's. Anyone interested in a free meditation class? Vegetarian food will be served! :)
I think we should send this photo to Vogue magazine! :)
Kasey and her friend both got henna tattoos on their hands, which is what a lot of the young Indian women do, especially in preparation for their wedding ceremony. They can be quite elaborate!
Flower stalls were abundant in Little India. They are used as offerings at the temples.
Fruit stalls lined the streets. Some of these fruits and vegetables I have never seen or heard of before! Some of them they claimed to be aphrodisiacs. (no I did not buy any!) There were also little shops that sold spices, and they would grind the whole spices for you. Between the pungent spices and the smell of curry food stalls everywhere, it was quite the experience for my olfactory glands! We also saw lots and lots of gold for sale, as well as silks and pashmina shawls and beautiful table linens. Indians love gold because it symbolizes purity. Young Indian girls are given gold pieces at birth and every year thereafter for just about any and every occasion up until their wedding, so that they can save it in the event that they someday find themselves widowed, at which point they can pawn their jewelry if they choose.
This poster was just across the street from Mustafa's. Anyone interested in a free meditation class? Vegetarian food will be served! :)