Kanyakumari: Land of the virgin goddess...

An artist holds the conch lovingly in his hands and gently strokes it with his painting brush. His eyes are so focussed on the little details that he ignores the little kid hanging by his shoulder, peering down at the conch in his hands. The loud blaring music, the hustle-bustle of the crowds, even the gentle breeze does not tear him away from his art.
I stand there as long as I can, waiting for him to finish his final stroke, but he suddenly looks up at me and gives a bit of a half – smile. I want to linger a while, but the sun is setting. And, in Kanyakumari, the southern-most tip of India, that is a moment you will not want to miss.
The oceans meet, bathing in each other’s waters, lashing against the rocks as a cloudy sky fills the horizon. Couples walk hand in hand, stealing glances at the evening sky as they sit on the wet rocks. The photographers arrive, promising you a crimson sunset in the backdrop as you pose for them.
I find a quiet corner and wait for the sun to emerge from the clouds. In Kanyakumari two moments are priceless and both have to do with the sun – the dawn and the dusk. And if you are lucky, you can see the moon rise on a full moon day just as the sun is setting.
I rush to the shore to get a view of the setting sun, before it bids farewell to the bright sky. It is cloudy and all that one can see is a pale colourless sky and a thin shimmering ball of fire glowing above the horizon. There is hardly any drama in the sky. Neither do you see crimson sheaths on the sky nor do you see the sun reflecting golden hues in the waters. Yet in the silence, one waits with bated breath as the sun timidly lets itself be swallowed by the clouds before bidding adieu. A hawker selling the multi hues of sands from the beach interrupts my reverie.
Cape Comorin or Kanyakumari, located on the southern-most tip of India is where the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea meet. Legends and myths merge with the landscape here as I walk back to the main bazaar overlooking the Goddess Kanyakumari temple. An incarnation of Goddess Parvathy, Kanyakumari is a maiden, a virgin Goddess who was stood up by her groom, Lord Shiva on the wedding day.
The Gods plotted to ensure that the marriage did not take place so that the virgin Goddess would kill a demon as predicted. Although she did keep her promise to kill the demon, she vowed to be a virgin throughout her life.  She cursed all the wedding preparations, including the rice and the grains which assumed many forms and colours and became shells and conches on the beach. It is believed to have lent the various shades to the sands of the shore. The Goddess, a muse and a guiding force to the fishermen protects the land and their lives.

http://travel.india.com/travel-blogs/kanyakumari-land-of-the-virgin-goddess