Festive frenzy puts Chennai in a gridlock

Amid towering posters of Jayalalithaa, the balloons, drums and costumes was a city caught in a gridlock.

Giant banners were plastered along Anna Salai, and much of the city on Friday.

On one of the hottest days that Chennai has witnessed this year, legions of AIADMK supporters poured out on to the street — some beating drums, others dancing in celebration, but most of them dutifully lined up — to catch a glimpse of Amma .

This was the first time Jayalalithaa was making a public appearance in 217 days, and it was to reclaim the Chief Ministerial mantle.

The city on Friday was distinctly unrecognisable: Chennai was plastered with towering billboards of her, drums beat and temple bells rang and party flags fluttering along roads — many of which had been hurriedly relaid overnight in anticipation of her convoy.

The convoy finally emerged only at around 1:30 pm after the inauspicious

rahu kalam passed. But ardent supporters, like Tamil Selvi and Muniyamma had been waiting outside Jayalalithaa's residence in Poes Garden from 7 a.m. "I managed to get a glimpse of her in the morning with my kalasam (holy pot)," Tamil Selvi claimed.

Soon, the hysteria spread as common citizens ran along with the convoy, craning their necks to glimpse their "resurrected" Amma .

Chennai grinds to halt

Amid the cutouts, balloons, costumes and music, however, was a city caught in a gridlock. Commuters inched along to work as traffic was diverted in parts of Chennai. Kamarajar Salai and Anna Salai, the two arterial roads, were particularly badly hit. In fact, the festivities on Anna Salai had people wondering if the road should be renamed " Amma Salai" for the overwhelming number of Jayalithaa posters, party flags and cadres.