Water gurgles gently by the semicircle of smooth stones on a makeshift pedestal. Beside the pedestal, a small net prevents trash and debris from flowing into the swamp. Looping knee roots arch out of the water, looking like miniature coils of water snake. They may look weedy and weak but are unexpectedly resilient, even when dust coats them, and water levels drop in summer. A small dab of red powder on each stone shines in the dappled sunlight, a reminder that these are no ordinary stones. They are a shrine to local deities — Chowdamma, Bhoota, Vanadevate, and Jatka — gods of the swamp.