Photos

Unsure of what is happening here, but it looks to be some Hindu ceremony thanking the sea for providing a livelihood? Just before dusk we went down onto the huge beach where thousands of locals were enjoying the cooler time of the day. No one was swimming but many people were wading like these women in beautiful saris. The terrible Tsunami hit this are in 2004 and killed tousands, mainly fishing families who live near the beach.

Some notes from India Beach Portal follow.
Welcome to the longest beach of India, Marina Beach, comprising of golden sand, good surf and a shimmering clean blue sea. This beach is counted among one of the longest beaches in Asia. Its 12-km long stretch was made beautiful by the wonderful facelift given by Governor Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff in the early 1880's, and is Chennai's major tourist attraction today.

Leisure & Entertainment Activities At Marina Beach
Marina beach is located on the eastern side of Chennai, adjoining the Bay of Bengal. Watching the sun set and rise from the beach is a fascinating experience. Though bathing and swimming can be dangerous, as the undercurrent is very strong, even then people come for swimming here. In the evenings, the beach is virtually a fair ground with various kinds of entertainment and food stalls lining the beach.

With its natural sandy beauty and spacious promenade and beautiful gardens, the Marina beach is a major attraction for tourists visiting Chennai. One can even shop around the beach, with local vendors hawking wares ranging from shell and glass baubles to kites and fruit juices. The Marina, however, is large enough to accommodate all visitors as well as the hawkers and is often the venue for important state functions. There are also facilities of pony rides at the beach site, which attract the children's interest the most.