AJ: Power tariff has been revised in the state. There is no change in the power tariff for domestic consumers. Low tension industries have been exempted from the revised charge. The charge for temporary connection has been reduced to Rs 12 from the existing Rs 13.50.

20% power tariff reduction given to railways has been withdrawn. Hereafter, the railways will have to pay the same charge as that of industries.

There is no change in the power tariff used for agricultural purposes, high tension, extra high tension consumers upto 33 kv and street lights. Power tariff for high tension industrial units and power based industries have been increased by 50 ps.

The new revised rate was announced by the Power Tariff Regulatory Commission. The revised rate will come into existence from December 1st.

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 26 (ANI/Business Wire India): Invis Multimedia Private Limited has developed an innovative web-based video encyclopedia of India.

The website (www.indiavideo.org ) will have detailed sections on each state and Union Territory. The video clips will be supplemented with text in English.

The site will highlight the unique culture, heritage and geography of India.

Kerala is the first state that has been covered in the project with video clips on other states and union territories, which will go online by April 2008.

While announcing the agreement between UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and Invis Multimedia, Minja Yang, Director of the UNESCO New Delhi Office, said, "One of the Organization's key mandates is to safeguard and promote the wealth of the world's cultural diversity."

"India is a vast country with an extraordinarily ancient and diverse cultural heritage. The unique objective behind this project is to develop an atlas of India that covers not just its geographical features but its cultural ones too. We are very pleased to partner with Invis Multimedia in the creation of a format that is easily accessible world-wide and that will raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding India's heritage," Yang added.

UNESCO is particularly known in the field of culture for its World Heritage Programme. There are 28 World Heritage Sites in India, but Yang said that UNESCO's principles embrace the protection and promotion of heritage and creativity in a much broader sense.

"Cultural diversity encompasses landscapes and buildings, but also rituals, performing art, traditional crafts and other traditional knowledge on nature. This is why a video encyclopedia is particularly well suited to depicting the full range of India's culture," Yang added.

Yang pointed out that India is a signatory to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which were both promulgated by UNESCO.

Invis Multimedia has extensive experience in the development of interactive materials for tourism, including CD-ROMs and DVDs on Kerala, Ayurveda, and Indian classical dance, some of which have been honoured with the Ministry of Tourism's National Award of Excellence. (ANI)
--MP

AJ: The CBI informed the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Kochi that a review probe is not required in the death of Shari as there is nothing unnatural in her death. The CBI told the court that excess amount of copper was not noticed in the blood of the victim and a re-investigation is not necessary in the case.  Three expert teams had conducted an investigation on the traces of copper in the blood and were not able to find it, said the CBI. The girl had died at the Medical College Hospital few days after she gave birth to a baby girl. The incident had turned to a major political snowball.

Kottayam, Nov.25 (ANI): A Christian family in a Kerala village has donated its 50-year-old teak tree to a Hindu temple for being used in a religious ceremony. The tree was needed for the past seven years to build Lord's flag mast by temple authorities.

The special teak tree was needed at Sri Mahadevar Temple at Ettumanur near Kerala's Kottayam District for an ideal flag mast that started just after the "Devaprasnam" ceremony at the temple in the year 2000.

Temple authorities had already visited nearby States in search of the appropriate tree. Eventually, they found it at Maniyangattu House owned by M.K.Joseph, near Pala.

"I felt happy and somehow I could help the temple for its flag mast. Earlier, I had 40 teak trees and had to cut all of that, but I could never touch this one. When the temple authorities asked for it, I just donated it happily," said M.K Joseph, Teak Tree Owner

The tree stands 68-foot tall with a girth of 76 inches at the bottom. It is believed to be worth rupees 2.5 lakhs in the market. 

For Joseph, the tree was the only one left after he had cut down all other teak saplings in the vicinity, it was at the time when the government included teak among the list of royal trees that could not be cut down by the owner.

Joseph remembers how once he cut down a few of the teak saplings that were planted along with this one on a single day but when he came near this teak tree, his axe was broken. He just left it like that.

But this time, the tree was cut with the help of men and machines in such a way that it would not touch the ground. Later, it was taken to Sri Mahadevar Temple in a procession, witnessed by all the community in the village.

After initial processing, the tree will be kept in a specially prepared mixture containing medicinal herbs and oils for a year. It is only after that it would be used for the Lord's flag mast.

Meanwhile, thousands of people gathered to watch the ceremony for cutting the teak tree for the proposed flag mast at Sri Mahadevar Temple at Ettumanur near Kottayam District in Kerala.

"We, at Sri Mahadevar Temple, Ettumanur are on the process of preserving a teak tree to be used as a flag mast for our temple which will be installed by January 2009. This tree has been donated by a Christian family from their property. The village's Christians always help the temple for various purposes," said U.N. Thambi, convenor of the Temple committee. 

For the entire village and devotees from the Hindu and Christian communities, it was a rare and auspicious occasion to watch priests chanting hymns and praying to get the permission to cut from the Mother Nature, the 50-year-old teak tree from the premises of a Christian family.

The astrologers had found that the deity was not happy with the present concrete mast, which had started of wear and tear around 30 years after it was constructed.

Teak tree products are known to resist the attacks of insects and the corrosive effects of weather for hundreds of years. (ANI)
--MP

Labels: Top-Stories

Labels: Government

AJ: Opposition leader Oommen Chandy, flayed the action of two CPI minister's in the LDF cabinet going to a police station to secure the relase of AIYF activists, arrested in connection with an agitation, and wanted the chief minister to oust them from the cabinet. The government should also take legal action against the mnisters for 'forcefully' securing the release of AIFY activists who were arrested in connection with agitation against retail giants, he said. The Ministers C Divakaran and K P Rajendran had committed breach
of oath of office and their action amounted to interference in the administration of justice, the incident also proved that the LDF cabinet had lost collective responsibility, Chandy said.

Labels: Politics

Labels: Government

Labels: Tourism

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 18 (ANI): A woman was today arrested in front of Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, as she attempted to gatecrash into the revered hill shrine, where entry of women is barred.

Shelvi, a native of Pondicherry, was arrested just 50 meters away from the holy '18 steps' as she tried to breach the temple's security, and was taken into custody for further investigations.

It may be recalled that just one and a half year back a major controversy erupted when a Kannada film actress named Jaimala claimed to have entered the sanctum sanctorum and touched the celibate idol.

In past few years many women have been arrested at Pampa while trying to sneak into the temple.

Women past their puberty are not allowed entry into the temple, and many women groups oppose this.

Thousands of Hindu devotees visit Sabarimala Temple during the festival known as Mandalam-Makarivilakku, which begins from the first day of Malayalam month Vrischikom in mid-November (November 16 this year) and culminates in the third week of January.

The temple situated atop the Sabarimala hill is at about 4,000 feet above sea level. One has to brave an arduous trek of more than six kilometres to reach the temple at the top and pass through dense thickets of forest.

Pilgrims from all over the country throng the hill shrine. (ANI)
--MP

Labels: Sabarimala, Top-Stories

Labels: Health

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 17 (ANI):  Thousands of devotees have begun the 41-day long trek to the Lord Ayyappa Temple atop the Sabarimala hill in Kerala.

"Mandalam-Makarivilakku" festival begins from the first day of Malayalam month Vrischikom in mid-November (November 16) and will culminate in the third week of January.

Devotees begin "Vratham" or the penance, wearing a string of beads and observe abstinence from all worldly pleasures.

Abstinence from alcohol, smoking, non-vegetarian food and sexual relations is a part of the ritual that pilgrims are supposed to adhere to.

During the "Vratham" period normally all the "Ayyappas", those who undertake the penance, wear only black clothes and observe 41 days of penance to visit the temple. Women past their puberty are not allowed entry into the temple.

Incidentally, there is no bar on people from other faiths from visiting this temple.

"The forty-one day "Vratham" is important for all Ayyappa devotees, the food habits are also very strict and the religiously inclined can go and have darshans (blessings) of the god. Lord Ayyapa is a deity for people across religions," said Mani Potti, a priest.

"I believe in Lord Ayyapa and I come here to ward off evil," said Sathikumar, a devotee.

More than ten million devotees visit the hill shrine during the annual pilgrimage, which is billed as one of the biggest religious congregations after the Haj pilgrimage at Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The temple situated atop the Sabarimala hill is at about 4,000 feet above sea level. One has to brave an arduous trek of more than six-kilometers to reach the temple at the top and pass through dense forests.

Pilgrims to Sabarimala throng from all over the country, most of them from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. (ANI)
--MP

Labels: Sabarimala

AJ: Sabarimala Ayyappa temple was opened for the 41-day "Mandala" pilgrimage season on the first day of the Malayalam month "Vrishchikam". The New "melsanthi" of the temple T K Krishnan Namboodiri opened the temple in the presence of
Tantri Kandararu Maheshwararu. "Ganapathi Homam" and "Neyyabhishekham" followed the first "Nirmalya Darshan" by devotees. Heavy rush was witnessed on the first day. It has been reported that there occurred a shortage of aravana in Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple on the first day itself. Appam and Aravana
are the prasadams of the lord here. Pilgrims have to stand in long queues for hours to purchase aravana and each can purchase only five containers of aravana as per the restriction due to the shortage.

Labels: Sabarimala

Labels: Kochi

Jabalpur/Kochi, Nov 15 (ANI): It was a busy day for forest officials on Wednesday as they worked hard to rescue a bear and an elephant calf that had fallen into a deep well in separate incidents.

Rescuers had a tough time in Jabalpur as they struggled to pull out a bear, which had fallen into a 35-foot deep well.

It took three painstaking hours and tremendous patience efforts not to hurt the while rescuing it.

"The bear was very furious and aggressive. It tried to come out of the well but couldn't make it due to the depth. It took us long because we were not sufficiently equipped to deal with the situation," said Manish Kulshreshtha, a worker.

The bear was later set free in the forest.

Meanwhile, in another incident in Kochi, forest officials worked hard to liberate an elephant calf from a deep well on a rubber estate that falls under the jurisdiction of the Malayatoor Forest Division.

Forest officials and some mahouts eventually rescued the two-and-a-half-year old calf.

The rescue operation attracted curious onlookers, including some foreigners.

"It's nice to see all these people caring for this animal. Because it shows that the people are caring about the elephants and they are ready to protect," said Christine, a French tourist.

The calf was pulled out of the well after over six hours.

"We could not find any trace of the herd, so we decided to rescue the calf. We tranquilised it," said Arun Scarcia, a veterinary worker.

Later, the calf was shifted to a temporary cage and taken to the nearby Kodanad Elephant Centre.

The calf has been placed under observation for two days and is being examined by veterinary doctors. (ANI)
- AY

Labels: Tourism

Alappuzha (Kerala), Nov.13 (ANI): A man in Kerala's Alappuzha District is preparing a mini-edition of Hindu epic Bhagwad Gita etched on thin silver strips, each measuring 8 millimetres in size and weighing six grams in total.

Being carved in Malyalam language, the mini-versioned Bhagwad Gita would be the smallest edition ever known, claims G. Vinod Kumar, the man behind the endeavour.

According to Kumar, who hails from a poor family of silversmiths, the compilation work by engraving on thin silver sheets has put to test his personal ability to create silver miniatures of deities, temples and animals. 

"Earlier, I used to make silver miniature models for temples and friends. One day, I saw a small Gita and thought of making a smaller one on silver sheets. And, I just started making it. When it was half done, I thought to make it smaller, and thus, gave it a final shape of 8 square mm size," Kumar said.  

Kumar uses a self-prepared pointed pen, fine arts hammer and other tools along with a magnifying glass for carving on silver sheets. Everyday he carves out at least four pages the Gita-in-the-making. It's been three months since he started it.

He also uses magnifying glasses to read the carved words, as the Malayalam alphabets are hardly decipherable by the naked eyes.

He is optimist of completing the tiny book by December.

Kumar, if successful, would create the smallest Bhagvad Gita in the world, as the smallest Gita known till date is a book (on paper) measuring 2.5 centimetres.

Vinod hopes to complete the Gita by December, and also has plans to write the Quran with full text in 6mm size on silver sheets.

Kumar's friends are confident about his ability to take out such an unheard of edition of the Bhagwad Gita.

"I know him since my childhood. He is a very creative man. After making a lot of miniature models, he is now working on the smallest Gita. It is an exceptional task that needs concentration. I hope he is able to complete it in the said time," said K. Kannan, Vinod's friend.

The Bhagwad Gita is a spiritual verse in Sanskrit language composed around the first century B.C to first century A.D. It encapsulates the essence of profound philosophies of Hinduism in a simple form, and is widely chanted by devotees.

Known as the Song Celestial, the Bhagwad Gita is the sermon delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on the various ethics and realities of life with pointers on the two key aspects of Yoga - Bhakti and Karma (devotion and duty). (ANI)
- AY

Kottayam, Nov.13 (ANI): Dog lovers in Kerala had a gala time this past week as they watched different breeds participating in a dog-show at the Nagamapadam Sports Complex in Kottayam.

Organised by the Kennel Club of Kottayam, the day-long event witnessed the participation of around 300 dogs.

Miniature Pinschers, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Great Dames and pugs participated in the show.

Pregeesh, a dog owner from Delhi, won prizes for his boxer.

The winners were selected on the basis of their performances, obedience level, health and purity.

Established in 1997, Kottayam Kennel Club (KKI) at Kanjikuzhy near Kottayam town in Kottayam District of Kerala is provisionally affiliated to Kennel Club of India. It caters the needs of canine lovers in and around Kottayam.

The club has been granted provisional registration and championship show status by Kennel Club of India (KCI). It conducts seminars and dog shows in Kottayam.

Kennel Club of India (KCI), formerly The Northern India Kennel Association, was started in 1896 to promote participation among individuals who are interested in canine.

Located in Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Kennel Club of India is affiliated to the Kennel Club of London.

It undertakes dog shows at national levels, issues various certificates and conducts diploma courses for canine lovers.

There are 38 independent clubs affiliated to KCI all over India. Membership to the Kennel Club of India is limited to 300. It also publishes a magazine called 'Indian Kennel Gazette'. (ANI)
- AY

AJ: Defence Minister and CWC member A K Antony said Congress high command to take a decision on readmitting veteran leader K . Karunakaran into the party. "There are certain matters concerning the state units which shall be decided only by the party high command. Karunakaran's re-entry is one such issue", he told reporters."I am not available for a public debate on the matter. Please wait till the high command takes a final decision". In an
another development former NCP state president Cyriac John held talks with Defence Minister A K Antony at Kozhikode Guest House. John said that a decision on joining the Congress will be taken within ten days after consulting with his colleagues.

AJ: In an important policy decision, ruling LDF in Kerala has asked the state government to explore possibilities of availing low-rate World Bank loan for projects to be implemented in local bodies. The LDF meeting also decided to borrow Rs.1000 crore from the world bank for local administrative bodies. The national highways of the state would be repaired under the BOT mode. The LDF would recommend the government to begin talks with the World Bank officials on obtaining these loans which did not have much strings attached. The Centre had recently informed the states of the availability of these facilities. The Centre proposed the BOT mode for highway development Kerala had expressed reservation as it would mean casting a burden on the people by way of toll collection.

Labels: Top-Stories

Kerala's ancient Kalarippayattu martial art form charms foreigners

By Juhan Samuel

Kannur (Kerala), Nov.10 (ANI): "Kalarippayattu", the ancient martial art form of Kerala, is today a big charm among foreign tourists visiting South India. Many of them are learning it to take this art form to their homelands.

Kalarippayattu, also regarded as the mother of all martial art forms, has influenced a lot of foreigners interested to take it up as an occupation by teaching it in their native countries. Hence, many of these tourists visit Kerala to learn it.  

Kalarippayattu trainers, associated with Kerala Kalarippayattu Academy at Kannur, inform that many students from western countries have enrolled at the centre in recent years.

"The students, capable of learning this art with determination can teach the discipline of Kalarippayattu professionally in their own countries. Most of the students from abroad thus would spread it all over," said C. M. Sherif, Technical Director of Kerala Kalarippayattu Academy, Kannur, Kerala.

Kalarippayattu includes strikes, kicks, grappling, dance movements and weaponry and healing techniques.

"What draws foreign students towards Kalarippyattu is the fact that it is ancient and acts as a good preventive health care discipline," Sherif added.

A German national, Manuel S. who teaches Kalarippayattu in Germany endorses C.M Sherif's viewpoint.

"It spreads through word of mouth. If people get to know that by practicing Kalari they can get rid of their back aches, can improve their concentration, then they will be attracted towards it. In Germany, you get many interested students and you can offer them training," said Manuel.

For the past five years, Manuel arrives in Kannur for a refresher course in martial art skills despite a hectic schedule back at home.

Manuel has 25 students at his Kalarippayattu School in Germany. He wishes to propagate the highly beneficial art in Germany and other European lands.

Kalarippayattu is the need of the hour for being a very useful form of exercise for developed nations where health has taken back seat vis-à-vis materialistic amenities added Manuel.

"After preaching Kalari for five years, I realised that in west people think that they are living a healthy life, but they are not at all healthy," said Manuel S.

The modern-day Kalarippayattu dates back to fourth century A.D. It reached the zenith in the 16th century during the reign of Thacholi Othenan, a celebrated chieftain of Malabar in north Kerala.

Legend has it that Kalarippayattu is attributed to the mystical powers of the ancient Hindu sage Parashurama. It is said that he built temples and also introduced martial arts that later influenced and shaped many other forms.

There are three types of Kalarippayattu in Kerala: Northern, Southern, and Mid-Kerala. They all work from a 'Kalari' (gymnasium, dojo), which has traditional measurements 42 feet long by 21 feet wide.

Kalarippayattu's northern style has five stages, which is practiced in Auroville.

The first three stages cover extensive body fitness training, stick training and weapon training. And, the fourth gets into bare-hand training. Only those who have thoroughly studied and practiced the previous stages are taught the 4th part, since it is the most secret part of the Kalarippayattu training.

A student must be very obedient, trustworthy, good-tempered and master of himself to move to this stage. The fifth stage deals with Ayurvedic treatment for body and mind.

Kalarippayattu develops swiftness and concentration and leads to rightness of action. Its demonstration includes physical exercises and mock duels including armed and unarmed combats. (ANI)
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-AA

Labels: Tourism

AJ: Four persons were killed and two injured when the car in which they were traveling rammed into a parked-lorry, near Kalady in Ernakulam district. The dead were identified as Ashokan (72), his wife Soudhamini (68) and their son Rameshan (36), and lorry cleaner Poulose (55), police said. The injured have been admitted into the nearby hospital. The victims were returning from Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district after performing 'bali tharpan,' when their car went out of control and hit the lorry in the rear on the Angamaly-Kaladi M C Road at Mattur.

Labels: Top-Stories

AJ: An expert team led by M K Parameswaran visited  the Mullaperiyar dam sitey to examine the leakage in the dam. There have been several reports on leakage of water through a few blocks of the dam. The dam was under constant monitoring by the officials of the Water Resources Department. Tamil Nadu was not permitting the officials to measure the seepage though the measurement which is critical in assessing deterioration of the structural strength of the dam. Hence, assessment by experts was called for in determining the safe water level. Former chief engineers of KSEB M.K. Parameswaran Nair and M. Sasidharan and Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department N. Sasi are members of the cmmittee.

Labels: Top-Stories

Labels: Politics

AJ: A nursery student was handed out a humiliating punishment of urine being forced down her throat allegedly by her class teacher infuriated over the three-year-old passing urine in her class in a village near Thrissur.

The teacher of the government-supported nursery school at Muppliam village, Mary Dominic, was placed under suspension by Child Welfare Officer of the Kodakara Block panchayat yesterday after the incident that happened last week came to light, official sources said. The action against the teacher was taken on the basis of an oral complaint from the child's mother. According to the complaint, the teacher meted out the harsh punishment saying the child should not urinate in the class room any more. A detailed inquiry was on in the case, District Child Welfare Officer, Ramadevi, said.

Labels: Education

AJ: In view of security concerns, use of mobile phones would be restricted around Sabarimala Temple, adobe of Lord Ayyappa, during the two-month pilgrim season beginning from mid-November, official sources said.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting of officials and people's representatives convened by Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran at the Pampa base camp to review the preparations for the pilgrimage season.

Sabarimala would be declared a permanent liquor-free zone. KSRTC would press into service 248 additional bus services and for the first time pre-paid taxi services would be introduced from Tiruvalla railway station.

To augment drinking water supply, three check dams would be built across the Pampa. Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran, Public Works Minister Mons Joseph, Francis George MP, Raju Abraham MLA and Travancore Devaswom Board president C K Guptan were present at the meeting.

Labels: Sabarimala

AJ: The newly-built Kerala Haj House would be inaugurated by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan at Karipur on November 5. Construction works at the House had been completed involving a total expenditure of Rs 5 crore, Local Self-Government Minister Paloli Mohammadkutty told reporters here. While the state spent Rs 1 crore, the Centre's grant for the House was Rs.1.5 crore and the remaining realised through public contribution, he said. The Government would look into the
grievances of the Haj pilgrims and initiate necessary steps to meet them, he added.

Labels: Top-Stories

AJ: The SSLC examination for the year 2007-2008 will be held from March 12 to 27. The examinations will be held according to the examination system and grading introduced from the previous academic year. There are a total of 10 papers. Application and fee can be submitted at the examination centres from November 12 to November 15 and with fine till November 20. The SSLC examination (old scheme) will be terminated from March 2008. Candidates who fail to clear the 2007 old scheme examination can re-appear for the A-level equivalency test conducted by the State Literacy Mission.

Labels: Education, SSLC

AJ: President Pratibha Patil today inaugurated three new schemes, Clean Kerala Mission, Distribution of scholarships to higher secondary students and released the logo of Kerala State Total Physical Fitness programme for youth and students. Speaking at a reception she said the
outbreak of diseases would have a negative impact on the health of the people and economy of the state. Patil described Kerala as a land of exceptional natural beauty which has made it one of the country's top tourist destinations. The growth of tourism in the state was commendable and further steps to boost the sector should be taken to generate additional revenue and employment. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, Speaker K Radhakrishnan, opposition leader Oommen Chandy and Ministers Thomas Issac, M A Baby, C Divakaran, N K Premachandran, Mons Joseph, Mathew T Thomas and M Vijayakumar were also present.

Labels: Education, Top-Stories