Blessed are these people who enjoy such boat rides over tranquil waters everyday. Interior Malenadu has indeed seen some very good roads today; however, given a choice the option for the locals is to set sail. Paying homage perhaps to the life-sustaining rivers? Maybe.
Naga Raja is another prominent deity here. One feels enamoured to see that even religion is deeply entrenched in nature here. And the stone tablets keep increasing.
Meet Kshetrapala, the lord of the land who solves all thefts, money matters, petty infighting and the like for the locals who are totally devoted to and afraid of him. They believe he will help them in righteous things; he simply delivers.
The natives of Vattakki, recipients of such bounties from nature that city-bred people would find incredible, firmly believe in their gods. These parts being the extended reaches of Jain influence, it is common to find idols of Tirthankaras being worshipped for the protection of families, fields, finances and fine health.
As water is abundant, paddy grows luxuriously. When it is ripe, wild pigs gatecrash for a party. Interestingly, people here found out that when a red saree or any other cloth is used to fence off the field, the pigs stay away. Red is read as 'obstruction' by them!