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July 11
Men and Moustache has been associated with each other since ages, and when the talk is about our Kerala men then one can’t imagine these men without their whiskers. But it seems that these Kerala men are shedding their age old manly symbol for a funkier look.
Gopalkrishnan Pillai, 55 an accountant in a private bank and a father of two sons, tells how youth of Kerala are slowly distancing themselves from the ethnic look and are embracing the clean cut shave. ‘Gopal’ takes a trip down the memory lane and fondly remembers his teenage days and how he was proud of his moustache. It was his identity which he still restores with pride.
If we turn back the pages, we would find that every single man was proud of their whiskers, but time has changed so has the ideology of our generation-next. Now moustache on men has become an outdated trend. And even if you will find few with the ‘Mishas’ (moustache) they might be keeping that due to some parental pressure to follow this ethnic Kerala style.
Suraj, 20 a young college boy with a dude look and a fire in his belly believes that one has to move with the time and for him looks matters the most. He with his spike cut and clean shaven look feels more confident and comfortable to stand out with his pals in society. His parents though are not in favour of his so called funky look, but that never bothers this young lad, who defines this to be a generation gap.
All this mixed views point out that the youth of this God’s Own Country is steadily moving at a rocket speed and are aping every new trend out in the global scenario.
Kochi, July 9
You all might have atleast for once travelled in trains, and if your journey is to the heavenly abode Kerala then the trip becomes more interesting and exciting for sure. It is said that you can find Cockroaches, mosquitoes and mallus anywhere and every where, and I think its true.
Where ever they are, but they visit to their motherland at-least once a year or two, they may travel to their native place with a pair of suitcase and bags, but watch out while they return; they have a new member in their luggage. Neatly tied and sealed this smart cardboard box has been one of the most travel essentials of these Kerala born travellers, when they bid adieu to their mother land with a promise to come back again next year.
Well if you all are quizzing what’s in that cardboard box then, the list is long friends. The box has all the flavours of their hometown, from jack fruit, mangoes, bananas, coconuts and lots more typical Kerala stuffs. Well this treasured cardboard box connects them to Kerala every time they relish the things this box carried for them.
So next time you people make a visit to Kerala don’t get amazed finding this cardboard box with every two travellers.
Kochi, June 18
Ramesh a farmer looks up daily to the dark clouds hovering over his fields in the hope that they will pour quite heavily today, but for his surprise his dreams gets washed away daily. He say’s if rain does not occurs in the couple of weeks, then he may have to look for some other source for water to irrigate this fields. Its almost seventeen days after the monsoon has set in over Kerala, but the rain gods seems not yet pleased with the ‘God’s own country’.
The state is still desperately waiting for the normal rain which has been the important factor for the seasonal crops and also the main source for the power generation in Kerala. If we look back, we can find that last year by this time rains were on its full, but like previous year this time rain gods does not seems so pleased with this tourist paradise (Kerala).
So far the state has experienced a scantly rainfall which is well below the normal rains in the state. The major concern apart from water for irrigating the seasonal crops is the big factor, power generation. If we put across all the reservoirs together, the capacity of the water as of now is sufficient to generate only 666.83 million units of power. The current level of water is still not adequate to overcome the demand for power for the state.
The State Electricity Department has started half-an-hour power cuts for the state. To so how reduce the daily demand of power and conserve some units of power to make sure if rains continuous in the same way then the electricity department could handle the situation well.
With such a poor start of the monsoon, apart from the meteorological department even the people of Kerala are a bit surprised. Though monsoon had broken all records this year, first with an unexpected pre-monsoon in rest part of India, leaving Kerala behind with a substantially late monsoon. But still people and met departments are hoping for a normal monsoon in the state this year too.
Kochi, June 17
The Red Ribbon Express will make its appearance at Thiruvanathapuram on June 28, spreading the awareness about HIV/AIDS. The train which is touring the country creating awareness about the causes and preventions for HIV/AIDS will be in the State for 12 days.
During its halt in the state it will make its appearance in few other places giving people the opportunity to known more about this dreadful disease of HIV/AIDS. It also educates how to prevent one with this dreadful disease. In connection to this the Kerala zone of Nehru Yuva Kendra will be organising a media workshop on June 20.
Kochi, June 14
Friday generally comes with lot of excitement and entertainment for the city movie buffs, but this time it was quite a big occasion. The much awaited Tamil movie of superstar Kamal Hassan, ‘Dasavathram’ was finally released after a long legal battle. This much hyped movie of Kamal Hassan is said to be the costliest Indian movie till date, made on a whopping budget of Rs.1.3 billion.
The scene at the city theatres were massive with huge turnouts of movie lovers waiting desperately for getting into the cinema halls and have a glimpse of their favourite star. Kamal Hassan known for his experimental roles has yet again tried something unusual and of his class by playing ten scintillating avatars in the flick.
The city theatres were running jam pack with whopping movie buffs trying their level best to somehow get the ticket. It was known that the screening of the movie was done in massive way with screening in more than 80 theatres in the state.
Dasavatharam directed by K.S.Ravikumar stars, has been made from a Vaishnav priest to President George Bush, this ambitious project of Kamal Hassan made him to write the story, screenplay and also to construct the dialogues. But the most noted effort is the actor himself donning the ten different roles, which are the pillars of the movie.
Apart from Kamal Hassan, the movie stars Mallika Sherawat, Asin in different roles adding new flavour to the movie. Bollywood composer-turned-actor Himesh Reshammiya has scored the music for the film, his first ever music for a Tamil production. The craze for the movie is such that movie lovers are standing for hours to get the tickets to watch out this much touted movie after Rajinikant starer Sivaji.
Kochi, June 12
If you have a penchant for driving and are planning to make the most of the monsoon season then geared up for a smooth drive to the sparkling hill station, Munnar. Now driving to Munnar will never be an uphill task for you, thanks for the well maintained roads which drive to Munnar from Kochi. This driver’s delight route is a bliss of nature, full of natural sceneries and pleasant sights.
The drive through the ghat road heading towards Munnar from Kochi is a great way to move out of the fast lane of town into a serene place without any sound or air pollution. Driving downhill will be a great experience for you with roads cutting through the canopy provided by trees and shrubs on either side.
The twisty road climbing up the hill station is smooth till your nears the town, when you could encounter few potholes and patches. Meanwhile you could enjoy a picturesque and smooth drive to nearby attractions of the high-ranges of Pothamedu, Eravikulam National Park and other nearby locations.
With such an easy going the hill station has caught the attention of many city goers, who are flocking to this splendid town resting in the lap of nature for their weekends or short breaks. The good condition of roads has made driving to Munnar a real fun experience and moreover a relaxing trip for many. So folks if you are planning out for a weekend break then Munnar is all set to embrace you with its charm.
Kochi, June 10
If you are young, charming, bold and have that pep in you, then do try your luck at this year’s Miss Kerala pageant. This beauty contest will be held on July 11 here, announced the reigning Miss Kerala Rohini Mariam Idicula at the function unveiling the logo here yesterday.
The pageant is a great platform for the emerging women of Kerala to showcase their image of modern women upholding the traditional values intact. The pageant will test the beauty, brain, and confidence of these young women’s of present Kerala, by a team of juries.
The winner of this pageant will get a scholarship worth Rs 2 lakh from the International Education Council. All those young women aged 16 to 24 with a minimum height of 5ft 2inch can apply for this pageant.
The current holder of Miss Kerala crown Ms Rohini Idicula said fame comes with lot of responsibility and she her self has been associated with many issues and problems relating to children and youths of today. She contributed a lot to boost the self confidence in the youths by organising few camps for them. Who ever will win this crown has to understand the role of Miss Kerala and should work for the betterment of society and state.
Kochi, June 7
World Environment was marked with great enthusiasm across the globe; the city too witnessed few of such events spreading a noble message to conserve our ecology. In the series of such events one of the leading city hotels Brunton Boatyard undertook a cycle rally around Fort Kochi.
During this rally they planted saplings and also undertook a cleanliness drive at the government hospital. This eco-friendly thought by the hotel was to spread the message among people about the need and importance of nature and keeping it clean. The hotel themselves believes and values environmental issues and took the initiative to spread the message to the public to keep the ecosystem clean and green.
Kochi, June 4
Akkulam tourist village in Thiruvananthapuram will soon get a new facet with the setting up of the Eco-Bio Park. This new project undertaken by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) will act as a pilot project for the lake front development in the state. This Eco-Bio Park will take shape on a huge land of over 5.5 acres, which will be a new addition to the state’s glory.
This new initiative will come up as a boon for the tourism industry of the state. The park will include a butterfly park, rock garden, freshwater lake, traffic park, island, geological museum, aqua garden, rock museum and many other attractions. The pilot project will be worked out under the combined efforts of Centre for Water Resources Development and Mangement, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Tropical Botonic Garden and Research Institute.
As soon as the plans will work out the project will start taking shape, the Eco-Bio Park will be an innovative project which will benefit the state a lot and would also boost the tourist influx in the state. All eyes are now on the day when this project finally gets the real shape.
Kochi, June 3
Fun days are over friend’s time to get back to basics; well this may be catch line for kids on the first day of the new academic session. Schools here began there new academic year in a grand way by marking the first day with ‘Praveshanotsavam’ (admission festival). They celebrated this by welcoming the new entrants in gala way.
It was known that about 400,000 children would be joining in the first standard across the state this year. Children were once again seen waiting for their school buses on bus stops and excited to move to the next class. This year as per the new curriculum the government has changed textbooks for the classes I, III, VII.
The government is open to suggestions on the new curriculum proposed in schools, also from this year children will be provided with health cards to ensure proper healthcare to them.
Kochi, May 27
The report of the Meteorological department suggests that monsoon will hit the southern state of Kerala by Thursday. Apart from Kerala the seasonal rainfall is also likely over Lakshadweep and coastal Karnataka.
Generally monsoon arrives in Kerala during the end of May and the reports of the Met department have hinted that the monsoon is right on schedule this year and will lash the state by Thursday. It is said that the cross equatorial wind flow over south Arabian Sea would be strengthening and deepening during the next 3-4 days. This will bring in heavy rainfall over Kerala and its adjoining areas of Karnataka and Lakshadweep.
The meteorological data’s has shown that with the strengthening of westerly winds, the southwest monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of south, central and northeast Bay of Bengal. Last year Kerala experienced a very heavy monsoon and huge loss of life, agriculture and infrastructure was witnessed. Now with the onset of monsoon it is unpredictable whether this year too Kerala will face a massive monsoon period.
Kochi, May 23
The fans of Norah Jones has something to cheer for, with the Metro Film Society planning to screen the debut film by singer Norah Jones on the coming 31 of this month at the YMCA auditorium. The famous and multi talented star Jones, born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar, has proved her mettle as a singer, songwriter, pianist, keyboardist and guitarist. Norah is now making her presence in the big screen for the first time with her debut movie ‘My Blueberry Night”.
Earlier Jones has made her mark several times with her number of albums which has won several hearts. She also won five Grammie awards with her debut album Come Away with Me. Her debut movie My Blueberry Nights is a soft romantic thriller which will feature Jones acting ability apart from her singing talent.
The movie stars Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Natalie Portman and David Strathairn along with debutant Jones. Directed by Wong Kar Wai, it is hoped that this musical gene from sitar maestro Ravi Shankar will captivate audience with her acting skills.
Kochi, May 21
It seems these days tourists are on the look out for something more unique and different during their holidaying in Kerala. The tourists coming to the Wayanad district of Kerala are enjoying a cosy staying experience here in a different style. The tree houses perched well above ground on the tall trees have fascinated large numbers of tourists. This new trend has shown how tourists are switching over their accommodation style and heading towards nature for a change.
It has largely been seen that more and more tourist are looking for tree houses these days to get close to the nature. The majority of the tourists flocking to Wayanad are preferring tree houses and other farm houses and resorts in spite of hotels. These accommodations not only boast a cosy staying experience, but also give them a real feel of the wilderness all around.
The Wayanad district exhibits a wide selection of tree houses and farm houses which provides a serene accommodation amidst lush surroundings to the guests. These treetop houses are usually built 70 to 90 ft above the ground, these tree houses provides all amenities to complement your stay. So you can have an aerial view of the surroundings straight from your bedroom, or can beat the stress out and relax in the lap of nature.
Well you can expect a lot of facilities in these tree houses from water counter weightlift system, to solar powered light, comfy beds, verandah and many such different features. This primitive form of accommodation is attracting lots of tourists with its beauty. So next time you plan your trip to Wayanad do make sure to check out these modern tree huts.
Kochi, May 19
After the row over the physical frisking of devotees at Sree Krishna temple Guruvayur, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has given assurance for a better and friendly policing at the temple. The minister assured for maintaining a tight security in and around the temple and premises, the minister said this while talking to media after attending a high-level meeting in Guruyavur.
The meeting discussed the present security arrangements in the temple and how to make it tighter and most essentially devotee friendly. It was decided to set up a new high-tech security system in the temple premises for a better and convenient security arrangement for the devotees. In order to tighten the security system around, 16 multi zone door frame metal detectors, 19 hand held metal detectors, 4 x-ray baggage identification system, 9 closed circuit television cameras and monitors and other new security devices will soon be added to the temple security system.
All these new hi-tech equipments will help to strengthen the security arrangements at the temple. It will also help to speed up the frisking process in the temple, giving devotee less inconvenience. The minister also directed the devaswom to increase the number of security personnel, so that proper security system is implemented in the temple.
Kochi, May 16
Kalarippayat is very well known as the traditional martial art form of Kerala. This art of physical culture is being practiced in Kerala from the time immemorial. The popularity of this martial art is not only restricted to India, but is known globally. This martial art form will soon be seen on the Discovery channel. In the latest series ‘Fight Quest’, to feature this traditional martial art form a team of Discovery is filming an episode on this traditional martial art form in Kerala. This Indian art of combat skills will now feature among the world’s oldest martial art forms in Discovery.
Kozhikode has been known for its vast number of kalari centres which made the team from Discovery to start their filming from here. The series Fight Quest will showcase all different hand-to-hand combat and martial art traditions. Kalarippayat is the only Indian martial art form which has been included in this series. Rest other forms of martial arts includes Wushu in China, Kali in Philippines, Krav Maga in Israel and Boxing in Mexico.
This unique series featuring the different fighting styles will be aired every Tuesday at 2100 hrs on the Discovery channel. The series will showcase a lot of information’s relating to hand-hand combating and martial art traditions across the world. Also the show will bring in the traditional culture and style of Kalarippayat at a global platform.
Kochi, May 14
Its feast time for all gourmets here in the ‘Tharavadu’ restaurant at the Casino hotel which is hosting ‘Karaikudi Food Fest’ for all food lovers. This ongoing food feast highlights the wide varieties of tempting Chettinaadu dishes. There are preparations for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians which one can savour with pleasure.
Chettinaadu cuisines are said to be the spiciest delicacies which are made using different spices, giving the recipes a unique flavour and aroma. It’s the mix of spices which does the trick in these Chettinaadu cuisines. Along with different spices other special additions are tamarind, whole red chillies, fennel seeds and black pepper.
This tempting Chettinaadu food feast is attracting a huge number of food lovers to have a taste of these unique preparations. The feast starts from 7.30pm to 11pm till May 18.
Kochi, May 9
They might have lost their vision but they are blessed with the melody which can take many to a musical journey. About 100 visually challenged musicians are all set to add some melody to the city with their musical performance here today. This unique musical extravaganza will be staged by the Guruyavoor Melppathur auditorium which hosts Chembai Music Festival.
The participants of this musical event include several visually challenged musicians, degree and postgraduate degree holders in music, music teachers, students and many others. The show will start with the traditional rendering of the Panchartna Keerthana. Many music lovers and music literates will also be there to grace the occasion.
Akhilbharatheeya Dhrusthtiheen Kalyan Sangh is organising this unique show for the people of Kochi.
Kochi, May 7
The Venice of the east (Alappuzha) was all set to witness a massive traditional Keralian treat this weekend. The day was perfect for a team outing with pleasant atmosphere and cool breeze. All members from the Met Life and Axis Bank were raring to start off their Corporate Outing on a high note. They were enamoured by the picturesque sceneries and natural beauty of the rich Alappuzha, everyone was brimming with energy and vigour.
We all boarded two motor boats which had a cosy sitting area along with an upper deck for having a bird eye view of the vast backwaters. As all entered the boat, the serene surrounding was filled with buzz; all were excited and geared up to have a splash out there. As our boat started to move, all slowly got themselves comforted in the seating area, some decided to be in the lower deck while many choose to be on top.
After a soothing boat ride we all reached the Nehru Pavallion, everyone was excited and eagerly waiting for the traditional Snake Boat race to begin. The two boats which were competing against each other were Allappat and St. George. The long traditional Chundanvallams (snake boats) were ready to hit the water; both boats were having around 80 rowers sitting two in row along the length of the snake boat. All were dressed up in the traditional attire which added more spark to the occasion. As the team of percussionists stared playing those traditional Chendas, the whole atmosphere got vibrant. The musical rhythm with every beat boosted the enthusiasm and spirit among the rowers. It was a magical moment which everyone appreciated; this combination of traditional sport with a traditional musical treat was the highlight of the day.
Our exclusive event caught every one at surprise and many foreign tourists and locals gathered around the pavallion to witness this majestic Keralian treat. Finally the moment came for which everyone was desperate; the race began with a bang. First race was a warm up one which made every one jump off with enthusiasm and thrill. The rowers of both boats were muscling it down to make sure they remain ahead from their opponent. The cox and leader maintained the rhythm of rowing through songs, chants and exclamations.
The whole setting turned highly energetic and loud, all were shouting and supporting their favourites. Those long snake boats were steering through the backwaters like a real snake on stalk. Believe me, such scenes are really a rare thing to watch, while the action was on its climax, many spectators were busy capturing these sparkling moment in their lenses. This exclusive mini snake boat race soon seemed as if it’s the real snake boat race festival.
After the first warm up race, it was the time for the corporate team and our travel team to get into the real action. Every one made the most of this rare opportunity and battled it hard with professional rowers. This was a spectacular sight to watch, with young amateur rowers pushing hard with expert rowers to take their team home on a winning note. Soon it was sheer fun and thrill as the snake boat kept on steering past the backwaters of Allappuzha. This was really a new and lifetime experience for many trying to row in these long floating structures. At last it was Allappat snake boat who emerged as the winner drubbing their opponents St.George.
It was cheers and hugs all around, with the win for the Allappat team. The spectators too applauded the spirit of everyone which made the race colourful. Everyone at the end seemed as if they are lost of words after having experienced such an amazing and fun-filled day. The thrilling day came to an end at around 5pm and we began our return journey, with many unforgettable memories and amazing sceneries in our eyes.
Kochi, May 6
Kerala the land of culture and traditions is the home to many religions giving this state a varied feel. This cultural diverse state boasts an array of worship places for all religion, from temples, churches and mosques. But the one common factor in all these religions are the priests. Well its very sad to know that these priests are paid very poorly in all religions.
If we look at the salaries of these priests we can find that they are paid far too low. In the case of Catholic Church priests, they use to get a fixed amount as monthly allowance. It is also known that amount even though paid to them as monthly allowance is not more than Rs 4000. The allowance could also differ as per the area the priest is working in; he may get more for working in an urban area.
A priest of Cochin Devaswom board gets a monthly salary of Rs 4000, the salary increases as per the service of the priest. Apart from the salary these priests are also entitled to get the dakshina (offerings) by the devotees. Meanwhile the Travancore Dewaswom board has a grade system for fixing the salaries of the priests. The grades are fixed on the basics of the years of service of the priest. These priest starts as part-timer with a basic salary of Rs 2300. Only after three years the priests gets full time appointment with a basic salary of Rs 3600-4510. The board also gives them other benefits like yearly increment, leave and pension.
In the Muslim community there are no fixed salary system for the Imams, basically the salary for the Imams is fixed by the Mahallu Committee. The minimum salary an Imam gets is Rs 2500 and average salary of Rs 3000 per month. The salary mostly doesn’t exceed over Rs 5000 and it depends on the financial strength of the committee. They can make additional income by teaching in madrasa and from marriages and funeral ceremonies.
But one thing is for sure that in such an inflationary situation such mere salary for these priests seems far too low to make both ends meet. They might be the most respected section in society but they are getting far too less for what they are doing.
Kochi, May 5
Taking in to count the increasing cases of elephant fury in the state, Zachariah Mathew MD of Mumbai based Senzo Engineering has come up with a new device to rein jumbos. This innovative device is in the form of a nylon belt which has a remote control that can lock the legs of the elephant by the press of a button.
It is known that elephant getting violent is not an unusual scene for people of Kerala. This elephant fury has claimed many lives and huge loss of property so far. To make sure this series of elephant violence doesn’t continues so widely, Zachariah Mathew invented this unique device. The device will be placed at two sides of the elephant, with one of its legs connected to a belt. In case of animal turning violent the mammoth can activate the device with the help of the remote control.
As the remote is triggered the belt gets tightened around the legs of the elephant making it unable to move ahead. This visionary gadget can be operated from a distance of about 75 feet from the elephant. The new founding is still waiting for the day when it finally gets tested on the real jumbos.
Kochi, April 29
It was unpredicted rains in most places of Kerala and isolated parts of Lakshadweep in the past two days. This sudden rain forced the mercury to dip giving some respite after the scorching heat which made them restless for the past few weeks. These sudden rains came to be a surprise for people which they enjoyed.
According to the met department Kottayam, Minicoy and Punalur recorded the highest rainfall in the state. Meanwhile Konny, Kochi, Kozhikode, Nilampur, Varkala and Alappuzha too experienced decent amount of rainfall. There are predictions of more rains during the next 48 hours in the state.
It was cool breeze everywhere in the city which made people to step out of their homes and enjoy this pleasant atmosphere. The different parks in the city and marine drive witnessed some decent crowd who turned out to enjoy the drizzle. Many love-birds (couples) were also seen enjoying the sudden transformation of weather; romance was in the air which made the day for these young couples.
Kochi, April 24
Kerala the heavenly abode has fascinated all with its varied attraction from its past. This spiritual land showcases an array of rich traditions and customs in its variety of temple festivals. These temple festivities have kept this cultural state always buzzing with festivity and celebrations. One can’t even think of a temple festival without the inclusion of elephants, these jumbos have always been a part of all the celebration in Kerala. But its also fair to say that these elephants have also claimed many lives and loss of property in many occasions in recent past.
In one of such gruesome event three people lost their lives when an elephant ran amok during the annual temple festival of Irinjalakkuda Koodalmanikyam temple in Thrissur district of Kerala. This horrifying incident occurred on the fifth day of the festivity while the tusker Tiruvalla Unnikrishnan was taken out after the ‘siveli’. The reason for the elephant turning violent has not been yet confirmed but rumours are that, someone tried to grab the trunk of the jumbo which made the tusker turn violent.
It was nothing new for the keralites as such scenes have become frequent sights for people of Kerala during these festivals. Prior to this tragic incident many a times such incidents have occurred in which people were killed by the tuskers. In order to provide some relief to the victims family the temple devaswom announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the dependants of the deceased.
Kochi, April 22
As we all know that plastic is one of the main pollutants to our ecology and we are battling out with this plastic menace from a long time. It has been a long time since the battle is going on to over throw plastic from Kerala. Coming up with a decisive step the Kerala government had finally decided to ban the use of all varieties of plastic materials which are below 50 microns in thickness.
This positive step will help a lot to protect the ecology of Kerala from the harmful effects of this growing plastic menace. The main thing to look out is to how effective this ban will be in the state, as it was known that the earlier ban on 30 micron failed to be effective. The government this time has come up with a hefty fine of Rs. one lakh and one-year imprisonment for those who violates this ban. Now it has to be looked for as to how this new ban will pan out in the state.
Kochi, April 19
Kerala is battling hard these days with a growing trend called communal clashes which is soaring at the same rate like that of our inflation. These clashes on communal grounds have shattered the tranquillity of this heavenly abode. This growing menace of violence and killings has made the life of common man restless. If we look into the core of the issue we can find that in recent months several such cases of communal clashes has come into light.
In one of such latest incident a person was brutally stabbed to death in Kasargod district of Kerala. The deceased named C.A.Mohammed, 60 president of the Bilal Masjid committee, was knifed to death while he was coming out of the local mosque at around 12noon on Friday. This case is just one of the recent incidents of communal violence. On April 14 one more such deadly incident occurred in which a BJP activist was stabbed to death. All these tragic incidents show how easily people are playing with the law and order these days.
There are many cases of brutal acts in which several innocent lives were lost due to the so called communal tensions. These incidents also hint towards a change in the society of Kerala where taking law on hand has become a play these days. Now the time has come when some concrete measures are needed to restrict such menace from our society, or Kerala will soon be known as God’s Disowned Country.
Kochi, April 17
The biggest temple festival of Kerala ‘Thrissur Pooram’ started off with a bang yesterday. The city was brimming with festivity and huge numbers of spectators congregated to witness this traditional fest. It all began with the procession from various temples which has its own traditional importance.
The main attraction in the procession was the brigade of caparisoned tuskers heading the procession from the front. The traditional ceremony like Madathil Varau and Kudamattom were much liked by the spectators. As the colourful umbrellas unfurled the spectators started waving and shouting with joy. This traditional ceremony of Kudamattom is one of the most attractive and essential part of Thrissur Pooram. Umbrellas of different shapes and sizes are unfurled in this ritual which is a great sight to watch.
Earlier the Panchavadyam and Ilanjithara Melam started at 11:30am which filled the atmosphere with the rhythm of chenda and clarinets. The pooram ground was filled to its maximum with huge number of spectators assembling from all over the country. Along with the locals many foreign tourists also have come to witness this grand festivity.
Like every year the main attraction of the festival remained with the highly decorated elephants, but after the directive of the high court this year these tuskers were made to stand on wet jute bags at the venues. It was also known that to make sure tight security arrangements at the venue about 2400 policemen were deployed keeping a check on the crowd.
The much hyped firework display began at 3am today with variety of sparkling and noisy fireworks, taking the crowd on their feet. This massive firework showcased a variety of colourful and dazzling display of fireworks lighting sky with sparkles. The pooram will wind up today afternoon with the traditional Pakal Pooram.
Kochi, April 11
Vishu the festival signifying the beginning of a New Year for Malayalees is all set to add its colours to the city. With only two days to go the city has geared up to embrace this festival with fervour. As it is well known that Vishu has is a unique festival for all malayalees not only in Kerala but also through out the globe. The most customary ritual on the occasion of Vishu is the Vishukani (first sight) it is believed that good things seen on the New Year day brings good luck for the whole year.
Amidst all this festivity the city streets are running busy with people shopping for the festival. It is tradition that people use to wear new clothes welcoming the new year and elders use to buys gifts for family members. One more essential feature of Vishu is the traditional Vishu Kaineetam, its generally given in the form of small cash or gifts which elders give to the children as blessing.
This year the soaring price rise has broken the back bone of common man, but still the city shops are running busy with shoppers buying for the special day. From jewellery shops to garment shops and cracker shops all are having a great business this festival season.
Radha Krishnan a house wife says, Vishu is one of the festivals which all Keralites awaits for the whole year. During this festival the whole family unites and marks the new year with joy and warmth. On being asked whether the growing inflation would have an effect to this year’s Vishu, she replied “With such a rise of prices of necessary commodities like vegetables and household stocks it will be a bit tough to manage the budget for house wives like us. But still it won’t affect the festivity and people will celebrate Vishu in the same way they use to before. Radha further said the not miss part of this festivity is the grand sadya (feast) which the whole family enjoys together.
Well it seems kochites are all set to celebrate Vishu with a bang, and the city is buzzing with the Vishu fever these days.
Kochi, April, 9
Keralities are facing tough times to savour their veggies these days with the soaring prices of vegetables in the markets. The situation is so grim that the common man is feeling helpless. It was seen that from the past few days the prices of vegetables have touched a record high and people are facing a real big ask to meet their needs.
With such a sudden surge in prices of vegetables the Kerala civil supplies Minister C Divakaran has assured that the government will take necessary steps to check the soaring price levels. He also said that, there are plans to get vegetables from Tamil Nadu in order to stabilize the situation and bring the rising price syndrome to rest.
The minister also said that a joint conference with agriculture, civil supplies and horticulture departments will figure out a plan to control this growing trend of price rise within two days. Right now Idukki is the place producing the major share of veggies in the state, but the produce gets collected by retail giants making the problem more adverse. Now it is thought that the government will buy the vegetables directly from the farmers to get the prices to slide to a fair level.
Kochi, April 4
The week long Metro International Film Festival will begin with the official inauguration by noted film actor Sreenivasan at the Sridar theatre here today. This festival is organised by Metro Film Society in association with the Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development of Kochi Corporation. The week long festival will get on with the traditional lighting of lamps by the gorgeous actress Kavya Madhavan.
This festival would screen many movies from different languages and countries. The inaugural film screened will be ‘Gandhi My Father’ directed by Feroz Abbas Khan. The screening of movies has been categorized into World Cinema, Indian Cinema, New Malayalam Cinema, Antonioni Retrospective, Keislowski Retrospective and Retrospective- Ingmar Bergman and also Homage to Bharat Gopi. All these movies will give the festival a great mood.
These movies will be screened in different theatres, the feature films will be screened at Sreedar, meanwhile documentaries will be screened at EMS Memorial Town Hall and at the Café@Sridar. It is expected that huge numbers of movie buffs would turn up to watch these mix of movies. The film festival will also attract many film personalities and artists to witness such a great selection of flicks at one place.
Kochi, April 2
If you are a daily commuter in Kerala buses, then get ready for a new passenger information service provided in over 20,000 private buses operating in the state. This modern transport system is said to benefit travellers by providing them with instant information on location, arrival and departure timings of these buses on their finger tip.
It was informed that a Chennai based technology company ‘Dhanus’ has come up with this proposal which will be a landmark in the field of state transportation system. It will be the first of its kind initiative of connecting all buses with this new communication mode. In this initiative the consortium partners are the Chennai based Sobha Applied DSP Pvt Lmt, along with kochi based Kiran technologies. As per this new system commuters can assess all the information of these buses via internet and through SMS.
The passenger information system is said will include over 20,000 private buses across the state. It will be a great help to people to have a clear picture of the bus they wish to catch and will also help to save their time. Another key factor this new system would have is the information of vehicle breakdown or any untoward accidents and would also help to keep a check on the vehicle speed. This web interface will be available in Malayalam, Hindi and English languages which will give people a clear picture of the information they need.
Along with a useful feature for thousands of bus travellers this new system would also prove to be a great support for many tourists who find really hard to travel around the state. But through this mode they can get all information on their finger tip, that too without any hassles.
So next time you board a bus you would be feeling more relaxed, carefree and satisfied. Now the real test is to when this new initiative is put into action and what effect it would have towards our traditional transport system.
Kochi, March 31
Air India strengthens its flight operation from Cochin International Airport by gifting five new flights to the Cochin airport. Out of these five new introductions, two daily flights will fly to Mumbai and Delhi, while the other three flights will fly to international destinations. These new flights were introduced under the Air India’s six month summer schedule from Cochin airport. This addition in Air India flights will bring in some relief to the passengers who are looking forward to fly to these destinations.
It is evident that Cochin airport has soon become one of the busiest airports in Kerala and several passengers fly daily in and out from the Cochin airport. And these new flights will help travellers to some extent reducing their hassles. It is also planned to de-link Cochin airport from the Calicut airport for services to Sharjah by introducing new flights by both Cochin and Calicut to Sharjah.
The aircraft to Delhi (IC 446) is said to have a capacity of 145 seats and will depart from Cochin at 7:30am and will reach Delhi at 10:30am. Meanwhile the daily direct flight to Mumbai (IC 162) also boasts a seating capacity of 145 and will help passengers to catch the Mumbai-New York non-stop flights. These flights will benefit passengers a lot by offering an easy access to Delhi and Mumbai daily. The three new flights introduced for international operations are, one to Dubai and rest two to Doha. All these Air India flights are introduced to make sure passengers don’t face any hassles while traveling.
Kochi, March 28
The world renowned temple festival of Kerala, Thrissur Pooram this year will not be so grand and vibrant as it has been since its past. This colourful temple festival is known to be one of the most traditional and famous festivals in this God’s Own Country. The main charm of the festival has always been the brigade of caparisoned elephants which will not take part in the festivity this year.
This shocking decision came out after the Kerala High court ordered a ban over the parading of elephants during ‘Thrissur Pooram’. It was learnt that one of the animal right group appealed for a ban of parading the elephant after the tragic incident of jumbo running amok occurred during the festival last year. Acting to this plea the court ordered a ban, shattering all preparations with only 20 day to go for the festival.
Thrissur Pooram has gained a huge recognition as an elephant festival with the tradition of so many caparisoned elephants as part of the festivity. The court also upheld the earlier ban on parading elephants between 1100 hrs and 1400 hrs (IST) during the festival. The main attraction of Thrissur pooram has been its beautifully decorated elephants, which attracted huge numbers of spectators. But this announcement came as a shocker for the devaswom authorities who think it will ruin the whole traditions of the festivals at large.
It was also known that the festival authorities are now seeking intervention from the government in this regard. But it seems that Thrissur Pooram is slowly loosing its colour, earlier it was the ban on high-intensity crackers and now it’s the jumbos turn. So all these factors are some how making the festivity a bit dull.
Kochi, March 26
As Kerala is on the threshold of a booming infrastructural development, several new projects and venture are coming up daily keeping the construction industry always buzzing. In recent years the state witnessed a golden period in the field of its key infrastructure development pushing the state to a brighter tomorrow.
Amidst all this construction the state is now totally dependent on the neighbouring states to meet its demand for the provisions. For any sort of construction work the main ingredient is sand which is not in adequate supply in the state. With so much of demand for this key element, branded sand is now out in the market from Tamil Nadu adding a new facet to the construction sector.
This branded sand is packed in 50 kg polythene sacks and are transported to the state from Tamil Nadu. With this new branded sand hitting the market many questions are raised regarding the cost factor. This Nachiyar sand is a product of KNR Minerals based in Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. A sack of this sand costs around Rs 75 in Kozhikode, and the prices may differ in other districts.
With so much of scarcity of sand in the Kerala construction market, this new variant may have brought a sigh of relief for the people into construction business. But if we look at the surge in the prices of sand in recent years we can find that, for a truckload of sand which amounted around Rs 3500, now costs about Rs 9500. Such a huge jump in price of sand is a serious concern for people who are planning to buy their dream home.
So in this era, where packaging is an essential factor, one can hope this new addition to the chain of products proves to be a hit in the market.
Kochi, March 24
The rain fury which is continuing for the past one week in the state has turned out to be a nightmare for many. These heavy rains have so far claimed many lives and have incurred huge crop losses for the state. The unusual summer rains has resulted to be a deadly rain for many and a setback for the agriculture sector.
Creating a huge loss for the farmers these rains ruined the ready to harvest paddy in a stretch of 20,000 acres in different districts of the state. It was the poor farmers who suffered the fury of this sudden rain which paralysed their life. The damage does not end here, the cash crops of pepper and coffee in the Wayanad and Idukki districts have also been affected badly.
These un-seasonal rains may have created a huge destruction in the state with both lives and property. But it also affected many suburban areas in Kerala with complaints of water logging and flooded streets, creating huge problem for residents and commuters. This week long rains has raised an alarm for the administration to take some concrete measures to overcome such situations before the monsoon finally gets in to its climax.
The state government taking into account the losses which poor farmers faced due to these rains later announced a relief package of Rs 12 crore. Even reports are that the state government has also asked for help to the centre in this matter. Last year monsoon was the most furious monsoons Kerala had ever experienced, and till now people are still recovering from the huge losses those rains incurred to them. Amidst all this these sudden rains has created a state of fear in the minds of people as to what all is about to come in next.
Kochi, March 20
Kerala the land of culture and traditions has always been known for its varied customs and rituals from the past. The ‘God’s Own Country’ is deeply rooted to its rich cultural diversity giving the state a multi facet look. So apart from all the attractions and unique feature this heavenly abode treasures in its vast stretch of greenery, it has a lot more to showcase. Well so if you wish to explore the varied cultural facet of Kerala, then this is the right time.
The state is buzzing with festivity these days; the temple festivals of Kerala have started with huge gaiety and fervour. Many temples across the state have decked up to embrace this colourful festivity. Meanwhile few temple festivals have been concluded amidst all traditions and rituals keeping the rich heritage of this divine land live.
During these festivals the temples are beautifully decorated with flowers and garlands. But the main attraction remains with the jumbo’s (elephants) who are especially caparisoned as a ritual. Many possessions are taken out in connection with this festivity adding more buzz to the cultural treat.
These temple festivals reflect the different cultural theme and traditions of Kerala. This cultural mix can also be seen in the different art forms of the state. So its all buzzing in Kerala these days, from the chanting of the mantras to the beats of the chenda, the whole air is spiritual these days with all the festivity.
Kochi, March 18
The past one year has been the most remarkable years for the booming aviation sector in the state. With already three international airports in its kitty, this God’s Own Country is moving ahead with many future plans to add more air terminals.
In this initiative it was informed that another new airport will take shape in the next three years at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. This announcement was made by the Aranmula Aviation Chairman P S Nair. This new airport project will be constructed in about 400 acres of land and the first phase of this airport will cost Rs 400 crore.
With a 10,000-ft long runway, the airport will be a great help to the people of Kottayam, Kollam and Pathanamthitta and adjoining areas. The Mumbai based Aerobics is the firm which has been given the task of preparing the project for this airport.
Even the two of the existing airports at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode are being expanded for various reasons. And another new one is about to come up in Kannur district of Kerala. So in the coming years Kerala will get a number of newly and modernised airports. It will also help the tourism sector of Kerala with more connectivity and easy flying across the state.
Kochi, March 15
The unexpected rains in the state and parts of Lakshwadeep in past few days has forced the mercury to dip, making the climate a bit cool in almost all places in Kerala. Though these sudden showers may have brought some respite to Keralites from the heat, but on the other hand it turned out to be a nightmare for many. The rain came as a worry sign for air travellers, with many passengers at the Cochin International Airport left stranded at the airport. It was told that the computer system of the emigration wing and various airlines malfunctioned due to flooding of the floors following heavy rains causing disturbance in clearance process.
The passengers faced tough times to fly with this confusion and malfunctioning in the airport, even the passengers at the arrival area of the International terminal faced several hardships. With this sudden rain it was known that about seven airlines services got delayed by one to two hours, making a chaotic situation at the airport.
After a hard day for flyers with the emigration clearance process hampering due to some technical damages caused by water logging. Temporary counters for clearance of passengers were set up by various departments giving some respite for the flyers. Later the airport authorities confirmed that the flooding of the terminal caused due to the maintenance works going on in the terminal building. This delay also affected the passengers who had to catch their connection flights from Cochin international airport.
Kochi, March 13
If you are cruise lover and wish to onboard a ship then a magnificent cruising beauty, Queen Victoria is all set to make its appearance at the Cochin Port on March 26. Queen Victoria is the largest ship after the RMS Queen Mary 2, and the newest vessel in the fleet of Cunard Liners. This giant ship is a brilliance of engineering and design making it a unique one.
Earlier Queen Mary 2, the largest ocean liner had been to Kochi and this time it’s the charming floating beauty Queen Victoria which will add spark to the Kochi port. The liner is on its first global voyage and apart from Kochi, Queen Victoria will halt at Chennai and Mumbai.
The ship bestows all luxuries to complement a remarkable journey for the voyagers. Built at Fincantieri Marghera shipyard, Italy Queen Victoria is 294 metre in length. With 16 decks, the ship can hold up to 2014 passengers and about 900 officers and crew members. Queen Victoria has been designed to make sure that passengers enjoy an opulent trip. With all other attractions to facilitate the passengers, Queen Victoria has 7 restaurants, 13 bars and clubs, 3 swimming pools, casino, large library and a theatre with a seating capacity for 830 spectators.
The voyage of this cruising beauty will be a great opportunity for kochites to have a glimpse and experience a memorable journey in this huge vessel. After Kochi the next halt of this ship will be in Mumbai. So kochites stay tuned till this cruise ship makes its mark in the Kochi waters.
Kochi. March 11
A truly glorious 300-year-old Portuguese heritage villa comforting in Fort Kochi is fascinating a number of tourists. This heritage villa known to all as ‘Kathleen Halls’, takes you to a journey of the past with its pristine beauty and style. This Portuguese villa has been restored with its age old charm by the proud owners David Lawrence and his wife Flowery.
Standing immaculately opposite to the Parade Ground in Fort Kochi, this 300-year-old residence attracts many guests with its architectural style and manicured gardens which are decorated with gnarled trees. This white building will enamour you with its artistic style and varied attractions.
This Portuguese trader’s house is developed as a ‘Diamond classified Homestay’ for guest who would wish to experience a comfortable stay in this heritage villa. It features six-rooms for the guests, the first floor takes through a narrow passage and to the open kitchen. The drawing room is regal with period furniture and other interiors giving the room an elegant feel. The owner David says, that the drawing room was used as a dancing room, the carved wooden platform here was for musical instruments. The teakwood platform with an antique radio on it, this radio was used in the film Cotton Mary, reveals David. Even this heritage villa has been featured in the Lonely Planet which is a high recognition for any house.
The 8000 sq ft house was bought by Grace D’cruz (mother of David) in 1940, the house is made of laterite stone and wood work is done with teak and rose wood. One can see many antique interiors and furniture here which are still in its original shape. The drawing room boasts tall and wide windows which the owner explains are not Portuguese. These windows are of Spanish origin without any grills. It makes a perfect place to relax and have a break with friends or family.
The homestay offers six-rooms beautifully decorated in an eco-friendly manner without any use of plastic. If you would look at the switch boards they too are made up of wood, in few of the room false wooden ceilings are done. One of the rooms has a private balcony and another boasts a private sit out. For having a scenic site of the Arabian Coast, there is a common roof top which is open round the clock.
David’s wife also provides cooking classes for tourists who wish to learn some delicious Kerala recipes. The place is open all round the year for guest with a great option for all those who would love to enjoy a comfortable staying experience in a Portuguese style home in the tranquil Fort Kochi.
Kochi. March 8
Women’s are the most essential pillars of our society, who from ages are shaping our society like a nurturer. March 8th every year comes as a day dedicated to women, which is celebrated across the world as Women’s Day! On this day all women across the globe come together leaving all barriers and boundaries to celebrate this special day.
From time immemorial women have made their mark in our society, whether it was the courageous Parisian women calling for liberty, equality and fraternity marching on Versailles demanding women suffrage. Or in 1908 women marching on the streets of New York, demanding for shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights. All these instances show how women have fought to get their rights and be in the race with their male counterparts. Being in India how come we can forget the efforts of the battle queen ‘Rani Lakshi Bai’ who fought till her last breath carrying her kid on her back to safeguard her kingdom. Another classic example is of ‘Indira Gandhi’, the women with the courage to lead the nation with pride and glory.
If we turn back our historic pages we can find many such women who have been made their mark in their own style. From the early days women fought hard to get her rights and what she actually deserves. And it would not be mistaken if we would say that it was their efforts, that today our modern women are standing tall and walking along proudly with their opposite sex.
The initiative with which the Women’s day was started way back on March 8, 1911 in Copenhagen by Clara Zetkin (leader of the women’s office for Social Democartic Party in Germany) was to provide women their social, economic and political rights. We have traveled a long journey and are in the 21st century with Indian women proving their strength in all fields. Even we should be proud that we got our first women President in