Shrine to Shiva, one of the trinity of major Hindu Gods

This shrine to Shiva fascinated me. It is set out around and in a banyan tree which is growing up through the pavement. The tree is daubed with coloured patches and hollows in the trunk are filled with offerings of puffed rice and small oil lamps. Two camphor flames were burning whilst I was there. The trident is one of Shiva's symbols and is seen everywhere, even painted on the windows of the auto rickshaws. The priest at Rajesh's engagement had a Shaivite trident marked on his forehead.

The small statue in front of the tree is a rearing cobra, decorated with red paint and flowers and carefully dressed up in a little frock. All of the tridents I have seen on this visit have had fruits impaled on their spikes. I don't know what this signifies.

The lady with the tray of grapes wasn't actually there, I just added her to balance the picture. It's probably sacrilegious to sell things by a shrine, but I don't think so. They are very relaxed about use of temples as they are so much part of everyday life.