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Kerala News Archive: July 2007
Kerala's Kathakali dancers to spice up India Independence bash in Scotland
Tuesday, July 31, 2007 | MP
Edinburgh, July 31 (ANI): Two Kathakali dancers from Kerala will spice up this year's India Independence celebrations in Edinburgh, Scotland, for the first time.
About 5000 people are expected to attend the event at the Ross Bandstand on August 18 (Saturday).
Organised by the Scottish Indian Arts Forum and sponsored by the Scottish Executive's One Scotland initiative and brewer Scottish and Newcastle, the event will be graced by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, the Scotsman reported.
The day-long festival of Indian dance, music, food and culture at the Princes Street Gardens will see the Kathakali dancers spending eight painstaking hours in make-up with their own personal "painter" before performing.
Their costumes, costing about 2000 pounds each, are being flown from India, and will be complemented with bamboo headdresses and a form of make-up, called "chutty".
"This is not just a celebration of India's independence from the UK, but of the links between Scotland and India. In Sanskrit, we have a saying 'vasudeva kuthumbhakam', which means 'the universe is one family' and that is what we want to promote in this festival - which is why we have such a great mix of Indian and Scottish performers, " the paper quoted Mohindra Dhall, president of the Forum, as saying.
The event will be promoted as the Festival Cavalcade on August 5, he added.
Celebrated Edinburgh-based brass carnival band Orkestra del Sol and the Drumaoban Highland Dancers will give a performance, while the Scottish-Indian Arts Forum is to hold a Bhangra and ceilidh dance on the open space in front of the bandstand.
The evening will finish with a performance of "Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon", a patriotic tribute to Indian soldiers who fell in the 1962 Sino-Indian War. (ANI)
Arabikatha
Tuesday, July 31, 2007 | AJ
Lal Jose and his script writer Iqbal Kuttipuram has come out with a solid film. There are so many well etched scenes in the film which exposes the hollowness of the communist ideology in a fast changing world.
An exciting performance from Sreenivasan(cuba mukundan) is the highlight of the movie.Zhang Shu Min the Chinese for a newcomer has played the role very well. Jayasurya,Inderjeet, Samvrutha, Jagathy, Saleem Kumar, Augustine and a host of newcomers have given spellbinding performances.Dubai, Abudhabi and Sharjah and matched it well with Kerala's green look. Lal Jose has introduced a new music director Biji Bal and lyric writer Anil Pachooran.
Home appliance companies eye Kerala market ahead of Onam
Monday, July 30, 2007 | MP
By Juhan Samuel
Cochin, July 29 (ANI): In a bid to boost sales ahead of the Onam festival, which marks the harvest season, major home appliance companies have come ahead with new models of their products, targeting the market in Kerala.
Indian arm of Korean giant LG electronics has launched a series of LCD televisions and audio systems ahead of the festival.
"We are looking at a total turnover of about 150 crores rupees for the business in this period, which means at roughly 30 per cent growth over last year. So, we have some good offers for customers and lot of value additions to them," said Girish V Rao, Vice- President (Sales), LG.
Many electronic appliance companies are also looking forward to make a good business this Onam compared to the previous year.
"We should be doing about 25,000 refrigerators, washing machines. We are targeting almost 30,000. We expect to cross a turnover of rupees 200 crores. It should be around rupees 204-205 crores as estimated by the region, which will be a direct 60 per cent growth to what we did last year," said R Zuttchi, Deputy Managing Director, Samsung.
Besides, other companies are also launching their products, and targeting the customer-driven market.
With a sale target of more than rupees 20 crore, air conditioners and microwave ovens are flooding the markets.
Some of the companies have also signed up with actors from the Malayalam film industry as brand ambassadors of their products, to attract buyers.
People from Kerala across the globe will celebrate Onam at the end of August. The festival is a sign of prosperity since it is celebrated after the harvest has been reaped and granaries are full.
Besides, Onam marks the beginning of all other festivals in India. Due to this, the Kerala market swells up during this period. (ANI)
Joshi,Mammootty Team Coming With Nazranni
Monday, July 30, 2007 | AJ
'Nazraani',the film in which Joshy unites with the hit scriptwriter Renjith.Shooting progressing in Kottayam and Pala areas. The films which are planned as an Onam release will have Vimala Raman for the first time opposite to Mammootty.
Vijayaragahavan and Kalabhavan Mani also appear in two prominent roles in this film which also has Jagathy and K.P.A.C. Lalitha in the other important roles.The film which tells a story in the background of a christian family of the central Kerala, will be an entertainer with fiery dialogues and action. The film is produced by M.Rajan (doha) in the banner of Horizon entertainments.
Plan For Nadodikkattu IV
Monday, July 30, 2007 | AJ
After the sucess of Udayananu Tharam and Notebook Roshan Andrews coming up with his new project with Mohanlal and Sreenivasan.This film is a sequel to the famous Nadodikkattu,Pattanpravasam directed by Sathyan Anthikkad,and Akkare Akkare Akkare directed by Priyadarshan.Which will have again Mohanlal as Dassan and Sreenivasan as Vijayan.James Albert(Classmates frame)is the scriptwriter.This film which is planned to take off by the first months of 2008.
Kerala temple allows women to pray in churidar salwar-kameez
Saturday, July 28, 2007 | MP
Thrissur, July 27 (ANI): The Guruvayoor Temple authorities in Kerala have decided to allow women devotees to wear churidar salwar-kameez while offering prayers at the temple.
According to temple authorities, the decision on the dress code was taken by the Guruvayoor Devaswom board some women groups demanded change of the old-age practice of wearing sarees.
"The new dress norm will start from tomorrow. Devotees from all over India visit this temple, and a strict dress code had become problematic for devotees from the north," said Thottathil Raveendran, Chairman, Guruvayoor Devason Board.
"The decision to allow women devotees wearing churidar in Sri Krishna Temple is historic, and it is going to be new launch of reforms which is required for the contemporary social needs," said a devotee Ajit Kumar.
Women also welcomed the decision, saying handling a saree is a difficult task.
"Be it Guruvayoor Temple or any other, I think in this rainy season it is very convenient to pray. Saree is very difficult to manage. So, I find it very comfortable," said R. Sindu, a woman devotee.
The temple, however, has rigid norms for men, who are not allowed to wear trousers and shirts when entering the sanctum sanctorum.
The temple, situated about 300 kilometres from state capital Trivandrum, attracts a large number of people throughout the year.
It is one of the richest temples in the country. Every year, it receives about three million dollars in donations, both in cash and kind. (ANI)
Ranji Panicker to begin "Rowdram"
Saturday, July 28, 2007 | AA
Get ready to face the Wrath of Ranji Panicker through his now venture Rowdram which will feature Mammootty to begin shooting from August 5th. Ranji Panicker will do the direction as well as the script for this new movie expected for Ramzan. Anto Joseph and Shahul Hameed under the Marikkar films will produce this action movie which will touch upon the recent political events of the state such as Munnar encroachments and the related political events.
Second Schedule of Pazhassiraja from August
Friday, July 27, 2007 | AA
MT-Hariharan-Mammootty's Pazhassiraja will begin its Second Schedule of shooting from August end at Kannuur. Gokulam Gopalan of Sri Gokulam Movies is producing this period film. Pazhassiraja will be Mammootty's 2007 Christmas release. Photo gallery of the Movie Pazhassi Raja is here: http://www.my-kerala.com/p/m/films/2007/pazhassi-raja/index.shtml
Mission 90 Days
Friday, July 27, 2007 | AA
‘Mission 90 days’ is a film written and directed by Major Ravi. The film is produced by Sasi Ayyanchira under the banner of Sri Uththrittathi Films. Model turned actress Tulip Joshi plays Mammootty's wife in the film. The film is shot in a single schedule. The story of the film is about Major Sivaram, a daring NSG Commando Officer in charge of the investigation of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Mammootty is playing the lead character of the film. He is on a mission to solve the case for which he has a deadline of just 90 days. It’s a Herculean task and he has to work day and night to grill the culprits within the given time frame. The Prime Minister appoints a high-level police team and armed national security guards with Sivaram as head have been deployed to crack the case. The film focuses on the tension and difficulties faced by him during the meantime. The film narrates the story in a realistic form and Mammootty shines in uniform as Maj. Shivaram.
Arm wrestling is child’s play for this physically-challenged Kerala man
Friday, July 27, 2007 | MP
Kochi, July 26 (ANI): For physically-challenged Joby Mathew, arm wrestling is child's play, and his final goal in life is to climb Mt. Everest and become an example to millions of people in the world.
Winning medals in national and international arm wrestling championships has become a normal routine for this 25-year-old.
Joby, who is 65 per cent orthopaedic-challenged, is now happy, as he will represent India at the World Arm Wrestling Championship in September in Egypt.
Born with short limbs, Joby’s daily travel from his home in Adukkom village of Pala in Kerala’s Kottayam District to his school and later to college where he had to use his arms extensively to walk, made them stronger or may be stronger than any other part of his body.
Joby claims that he realized his calling in life during his schooldays when he started to challenge and defeat lots of students in arm wrestling competitions.
"During my school days, I used to defeat all my schoolmates, and even seniors. To make others feel that I am not a disabled, but a normal person, I started arm wrestling as a profession,” he said.
Joby has won many medals in both the disabled and normal categories in national and international meets.
Joby’s friends are quite astonished at his achievements.
“We all are confident about him bringing medals from the World Championship,” said Jose K, Joby’s friend.
He recently won two bronze medals in the normal 52 weight category and 60 kg disabled category at the World Arm Wrestling Championship in Japan.
Joby has completed his LLB studies, and is now working as a PRO in the Social Work wing of the Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, at Kalamassery near Kochi.
The Kochi-based Women's Club of Rotary, Inner Wheels, is sponsoring his trip to Egypt. (ANI)
Raja Ravi Varma
Thursday, July 26, 2007 | AA
Suresh Gopi is taking a break from his usual roles to begin to be the Raja Ravi Varma, the famous painter of Kerala have ever seen. The film will be the 13th directural venture by the award winning director Lenin Rajendran. The film will portray the trials of this artist. Suresh Gopi, when speaking on the role yesterday at the state capital, remarked that it is a challenge for him to play the role of an artist because it was very different from the action roles that he usually played. A debutante will play the female lead in the film as Varma's model and wife. The film will be shot in and around Mysore, Maharashtra and Kerala and will be one of the earlier releases of the star, next year.
Thiruvananthapuram zoo reopens
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 | MP
Thiruvananthapuram, July 24 (ANI): A zoo here reopened on Tuesday after 16 days of quarantine, following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among animals.
The city zoo was closed on July 8 for the visitors after it lost its entire stock of Indian Gaur (Bos Gaurus or a look alike of Indian bison) and 12 blackbucks in a week to the killer disease.
The zoo confirmed that FMD virus of strain 'O' had caused the deaths.
Although officials claim that everything is normal, the zoo is taking precautions against the highly contagious disease by restricting visitors inside the zoo.
The zoo has also introduced foot-dips, which is a shallow pit made at the entrance of the zoo filled with Potassium permanganate. The pit is covered with mats and visitors are being told to walk on it so that their shoes are quarantined.
"There are no restrictions inside the zoo. The visitors are not allowed to go the tagged areas, which are blocked for few days. It is as usual as before," said Elcy George, Director of the zoo.
The visitors are also appreciating the preventive measures taken by the zoo authorities.
"I have read about the zoo, I heard that there are beautiful animals here therefore I came here. I think it is good that they are taking these measures and being careful," said Pedra, a foreign tourist.
India had not previously confirmed the presence of the highly contagious disease-FMD, which causes severe weight loss in cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle and hogs.
However, agricultural experts have long believed that the country regularly suffers isolated outbreaks.
The zoo, set up by the erstwhile rulers of Travancore in 1857, houses 72 species of animals in a scenic 56-acre surroundings. (ANI)
Fight off monsoon diseases with rat meat
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 | MP
Kalara (Kerala), July 24 (ANI): Around 50 families of Perumanthurthu Island in Kerala's Kottayam District eagerly await the monsoon to undertake their favourite hobby of catching water rats for preparing a unique delicacy.
Living on the banks of Vembanadu Lake near Kalara village of Perumanthurthu Island, these families belong to the backward class, and believe that by eating water rats in season, they won't suffer from seasonal diseases.
Though farming is the main occupation of these villagers, collecting water rats out of the Vembanadu Lake in country-made canoes, using sharp spikes, is an enjoyable pastime.
Once collected, these rats are skinned, mixed with locally available herbs and spices, and eaten.
Omana Vishwanath, a villager, described the dish as a delicacy that made those eating it more energetic after consuming it.
Medical experts too vouch for rat meat, scientifically called Rattus Norvegicus and Bandicota Indica.
"The villagers know the medicinal value and calorific content of rat meat. In the monsoon season, when the other foods are unavailable, they go for this type of food," said Dr. Punnen Kurian, the director of the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences.
During his research, Kurian compared rat meat with goat meat and found that it is high in minerals, vitamins, and has higher calorific value.
In India there are over 40 species of rat, 23 of which are found in Kerala alone. They are carriers of over 260 diseases.
Rat meat is also a special delicacy in Thailand and China. (ANI)
Hoteliers promote ‘Monsoon Festivals’
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 | MP
Kochi, July 24 (ANI): Kerala hoteliers are organising various kinds of ‘Monsoon Food Festivals’ to boost tourism in the state.
Food festivals are arranged mostly in restaurants every year, and during this three-month monsoon period, hoteliers compete in terms of unique preparations.
Sunil K. Nayar, a chef at the Mermaid Hotel, said: “The ‘Monsoon Dosa Festival’ last year received a positive response from customers, and prompted us to organize one this year also.”
The festival this year, offered a wide variety of rolls and grills, said Nayar.
Restaurants promote items like chicken spider roll, chicken sausage roll covered with puff pastry and baked and served with garlic mayonnaise, spicy marinated masala grilled fish finger flavoured, southern grilled squid with crushed coriander, tawa hariyali murgh, a boneless chicken pieces marinated with spicy green masala, grilled and served with mint chutney.
Some exclusive selections include mix seafood sautéed with a typical masala, or a stuffed roomali roti and served with mint chutney and, chicken kathi rolls.
Residents who are unable to travel due to the heavy rains are attracted to these food festivals.
The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) recently demanded a reduction of the hike in luxury tax from 15 per cent to 7.5 per cent, and urged the State Government to declare hotels an industry.
Although the Supreme Court and High Court had approved the hotel industry as a small-scale industry, the State Government was yet to accord the status.
The KHRA has over 80,000 members and provide employment to nearly a million people.
The KHRA is a big contributor to the money spinning tourism industry in the state. (ANI)
When Potter disappeared live on stage
Monday, July 23, 2007 | MP
By Juhan Samuel
Kochi, July 22 (ANI): Kerala’s noted magician Samraj, known for his incredible feats of “Escape Acts”, left his audience flabbergasted when he disappeared Harry Potter during a magic show--Harry Potter and his magic--here.
During the magic show, Samraj made a boy appear as Harry on the stage through his magical tricks out of the large book. The boy acted as a magic boy and showcased little bit of magic to the audience.
Then suddenly, Samraj made the boy disappear from the stage in front of the audience after the little boy completed his magic demonstration.
A large number of children accompanying their parents arrived at Kochi’s Town Hall to watch the magic show based on Harry Potter.
The magic show intended to create curiosity and awareness among people, especially children, about the new edition and bring back reading habits through the books which are selling in millions all over the world.
Samraj introduced the latest edition of the Harry Potter series and its characters to the large audience before starting the actual magic show.
Magician Samraj is known as "The Indian Houdini", a name so earned for conducting shows involving great risk and incredible feats of Escape Acts.
He has performed many chivalrous and daring outdoor events many times, proving his immense talent in the magic world.
Some of Samraj’s major escape acts have been the Great fire escape act and train vanishing act where a huge engine appeared on stage and by counting one-two-three the train vanishes and a huge elephant appears in place of it.
During another magic show, the magician chained with a 75-feet long heavy chain and locked with 50 pad locks, hand-cuffed, blind-folded, inside a gunny bag and locked in a chained iron box, was thrown into a huge fire.
Surprising the anxious approx 50,000 people including VIPs, the Samraj appeared among the audience with a smiling face in just 25 seconds wearing a Police officer's uniform. (ANI)
Woman sells tea from a tree
Saturday, July 21, 2007 | AJ
Wayanad (Kerala), July 20 (ANI): For many people the idea of living atop a tree may sound adventurous, but for a 50-year-old woman it was compulsion.
Nibisha, who runs a teashop on the national highway that passes through the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, was driven up a tree by rampaging wild elephants.
Nibisha has been living in a tree house built at a height of over 30 feet for the past twenty years.
After elephants in the forest damaged her shop a couple of times, forest officials advised her to make a house on a tree to avoid further attacks by the jumbos.
Tribals helped her to build the tree house, using bamboo, grass and wood.
Babu, a lorry driver, said that the treetop ta joint was a popular one, and added that he was yet to see another like it in any other state.
Nibisha says she used the earnings from the tea shop to bring up her three children.
Although her children are now well settled and have asked her to live with them, Nibisha refuses to leave her teashop and tree house. (ANI)
It’s rejuvenation month for elephants
Wednesday, July 18, 2007 | MP
Thrissur (Kerala), July 18 (ANI): Come monsoon and elephants in Kerala are provided with rest and rejuvenation therapy to enhance the well being of these beasts.
The Vadakkunathan Temple at Thrissur gives a rest to its herd of elephants from their daily chores with a month-long restorative treatment called Aanayoottu.
Aanayoottu literally means feeding the elephants with specially prepared food, which is valued for its high medicinal value. This medicinal concoction is regarded as vital for enhancing the well being of elephants.
At this ceremony, around 45 elephants, small and large ones, are lined up on the first day of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam, which started on Tuesday and lasts till August 16.
Sasi Kumar, a mahout, said: “Every year, this event is conducted in this temple during the Karkidakam month. It is a very good thing to keep our elephants healthy thoughtout the period.”
The medication will continue for the next 15-20 days for each of the pachyderms, depending on its health condition and weight.
The medicated mixture given to elephants comprises cooked rice with ghee, wheat flour, powdered black gram, palm jaggery and herbal powders.
The formulation is administered to the animals to protect and improve their health during the monsoon months when they are not taken for any temple processions, and are provided with full rest.
“We see it as an offering to God Ganesha which helps to remove all their problems and protect them from monsoon-related aliments,” C G Ravi, the President of Cochin Devason Board, said.
The therapy will be extended to the rest of the temple elephants in the district soon.
According to unofficial records, in Kerala alone, there are around 900 captive elephants.
A large number of devotees and villagers gather at the temple to witness the therapy. (ANI)
"Tomato fever" hits Kerala
Tuesday, July 17, 2007 | MP
Kottayam (Kerala), July 16 (ANI): After rat fever, Chikungunya, now it is "tomato fever" that has gripped several districts of Kerala.
Around 2,800 people are reported to have been either affected or showing the symptoms of tomato like boils with itching in their body and even worms coming out of their wounds.
“Tomato fever” is spreading rapidly in the Chikungunya-affected areas of Mudakayam, Vazhoorr and Kanjirappally in Kottayam District and Pathinamtitta District.
Lijy Mathew, a standard VI student admitted to Kottayyam district hospital said that it was very difficult to walk and bear teh itching on her wounds. She says at times blood oozes out.
The same symptoms can be seen in other patients across the district and it is mainly happening to people who already had viral fever or were suffering from chikungunya.
Doctors say, the fever could be an after-effect of Chikungunya, a virus which spreads through mosquito-bite and causes a non-fatal illness with high fever, headache, severe joint pains, rashes and nausea.
Medical experts, however, deny confirmation of “tomato fever” before conducting a thorough research.
N. Thanganath, Medical Superintendent of Kottayam district hospital, said: "In one or more cases, it's not just fever, patients have irritation on the skin and also rashes and show signs of dehydration on the tongue. At least one or two per cent of the patients show these signs. It does not go off even after one week of treatment. Just a handful of them had rashes on the face. We don't know the specific reason. Sometimes it goes off on its own."
Hundreds and thousands of cases of individuals suffering from Chikungunya in various parts of the coastal State were reported last month. Interestingly, the disease is more widespread in teh predominantly rubber growing regions of the State. Experts say, rubber plantations were a fertile ground for mosquitoes to grow.
Medicinal tablets like Paracetamol and vitamin B- complex are being prescribed and patients have been advised to take lot of fluids.
A five-member team of the Central Expert Committee arrived in Kottayam on Sunday (July 15) to take stock of the situation.
As of now 31,000 had viral fever in Pathanamthitta and 77,000 in Kottayam alone and it is spreading fast in other parts of Kerala.
The State health minister P.K. Sreemathy said that in June, the number of suspected chikungunya cases was very high with Kottayam reporting the highest number of 6,021 patients followed by Pathanamthitta with 2,516. From July till date, there were only 242 cases reported from Kottayam and 129 in Pathanamthitta.
Sreemathy said, the Government would provide Homeopathic and Ayurvedic medicines to all the patients free of cost. This would cost the Government Rs 3.30 crore.
Paracetamol and vitamin B-complex tablets are being administered in large quantities and patients are being advised to consume lots of fluids and take rest. It takes weeks and sometimes months for patients to be completely rid of the disease.
Similar to dengue, the mosquito-borne disease, there is no vaccine for Chikungunya. (ANI)
Collector exhibits rare photographs of Gandhi
Tuesday, July 17, 2007 | MP
Kasaragod (Kochi), July 16 (ANI): After the controversy surrounding the Christie’s auction of Mahatma Gandhi letter written 19 days before his assassination, it’s now the turn of original black and white photographs of Gandhi making news in Kerala.
Nirmal Kumar of Kerala’s Kasaragod District claims that he has some rare photographs of Gandhi, which he exhibits in public places to make people aware of Gandhi’s his life and the major events of Indian history.
Nirmal started his collection 25 years ago, and now they number around 250, and include pictures from Gandhi's childhood till his death.
According to Nirmal, a set of 25 photos portraying Gandhi's childhood till his elderly age forms the most important part of his collection.
Some of the important photos include the Dandi March, the Round Table Conference, visiting Jallianwalla Bagh, meeting and discussions with Nehru and people gathered to pay their last respects after his assassination.
Nirmal started his hobby when his father, a freedom fighter and a good friend of Gandhi, handed over a small album of photographs. He says this is the most precious gift his father presented him.
“I consider this as a precious and rare gift from my father. I arranged it in an exhibition format. It is now been with me for the past 25 years,” Nirmal, a teacher at a nearby school in Kasaragod, said.
Till now, he has organised over 1000 exhibitions in Kerala alone.
Satish Gopi, a villager, said that people from different walks of life find this exhibition a great treasure.
His main aim now is to create a huge photo gallery in Kasaragod on Gandhi's collection and photographs after promoting the exhibition in other states of India. (ANI)
After-effect of Chikungunya, ‘tomato fever’
Monday, July 16, 2007 | MP
Kottayam (Kerala), July 15 (ANI): A large number of people in Kerala are thronging hospitals with symptoms of a rare fever, locally called ‘tomato fever’.
Doctors say the fever is an after-effect of Chikungunya.
Tomato fever is spreading rapidly in the areas of Mudakayam, Varzur and Kanirapally in Kottayam and Pathinamtita districts, which were earlier affected by Chikungunya.
Chikungunya is a virus which spreads through mosquito-bite and causes a non-fatal self-limiting illness, marked by high fever, headache, severe joint pain, rashes and nausea.
Symptoms of ‘tomato fever’ have been seen in around 2,800 people so far. The symptoms include tomato like wounds especially on hands and legs, from which fluid oozes out.
N. Thanganath, Medical Superintendent, Kottayam, said: "In one or more cases, it's not just fever. Patients have irritation on the skin and also rashes and show signs of dehydration on the tongue. At least one or two percent of the patients show these signs. It does not go away even after one week of treatment. Just a handful of them had rashes on the face. We don't know the specific reason. Sometimes it goes away on its own".
A five-member team of the Central Expert Committee arrived in Kottayam on Sunday to take stock of the situation.
Hundreds and thousands of cases of people suffering from Chikungunya in various parts of the coastal state were reported last month.
Medicinal tablets like Paracetamol and vitamin B-complex have been prescribed and patients have been advised to consume lot of fluids.
Like dengue, another mosquito borne disease, there is no vaccine for Chikungunya, and at best, symptoms can be countered through painkillers, intake of plenty of fluids and lots of rest. (ANI)
Memorial to ‘Crocodile Hunter’
Sunday, July 15, 2007 | AJ
Thiruvananthapuram, July 13 (ANI): The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is situated about 30 kilometers east of Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram, has thrown open a new crocodile research centre set up in memory of Australian crocodile hunter and animal conservationist Steve Irwin, to the public.
The reservoir boasts that the Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre is the first instance in the world of a government body being named a memorial after Irwin.
The Neyyar Dam already has a lion safari park, a deer park and boating facilities, besides one of the biggest landscaped gardens. The authorities hope the Centre will attract more tourists to the Neyyar Dam.
Forty-four-year-old Irwin died on September 4, 2006 when a stingray barb pierced his chest while he was filming a nature documentary off Port Douglas in North Queensland.
A life-size plaque of Irwin with a crocodile at the entrance of the centre greets visitors.
Set up by the Department of Forests and Wildlife at Markunnam, the centre was inaugurated by State Forest Minister Benoy Viswom in May.
Viswom said Kerala is the first State in India to set up a memorial for Irwin.
The centre has been set up as per the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority. The 2.5 hectares of land houses marsh and mugger crocodiles found in the marshlands of the area.
It has been thrown open to the public now after more muggers were shifted to the centre from an adjacent crocodile farm.
The crocodile farm was started in 1977 near the forest's boat club in Neyyar as part of a national programme to conserve crocodiles. At present, there are 44 muggers in the crocodile farm.
The 128 sqkm Neyyar Sanctuary occupies a beautiful wooded and hilly landscape, dominated by the peak of Agasthya malai.
Wildlife includes gaur, sloth bear, Nilgiri Tahr, jungle cat and Nilgiri langur but most commonly seen animals are wild elephants and sambar deer. (ANI)
Boat race to get status of sporting event
Thursday, July 12, 2007 | MP
Champakulam (Kerala), July 12 (ANI): Kerala's traditional boat race will now be recognised as a sporting event in the State.
The State Government has taken a decision to grant it the status of a sports event, and a formal announcement in this regard would be made later in the year.
"I have given due recognition and credit to the indigenous sports so that the youth will have an ample of opportunity to access this sport. Further we have taken a strong look on the fading arts of Kerala, especially the martial arts like Kalaripayattu, traditional races like these boat races," said G. Kishore, Sports Secretary in the Kerala State government.
Boat races are an integral part of the traditional festivals in the State during the harvest season.
They are held in seven districts of the State. The one held at Champakulam in Alappuzha District is the biggest, attracting thousands of people, including domestic and foreign tourists.
"I've never seen so many people in one boat rowing at the same time. It looks like complete chaos but it seems to be doing all very well," says Randy Toms, a tourist from the UK.
But the most popular boat race is Nehru Trophy Boat Race held in the backwaters of Kerala's Alappuzha. The boat race is named after the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who had instituted the trophy.
Various kinds of boats participate in these races, of which the largest is snake boats. Snake boat races are the largest team sport event in the world.
Snake boats are long and narrow country boats, originally designed to transport soldiers to war front with a speed of about 50 kilometres an hour. But these days it is used exclusively for boat races or ceremonial events.
The tradition of boat races started as boat pageantries or colourful boat processions by carrying temple deities, which later became a competitive event dating back to more than 400 years ago in the State. (ANI)
Thiruvananthapuram Zoo shuts down
Thursday, July 12, 2007 | MP
Trivandrum (Kerala), July 12 (ANI): The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo has barred the entry of visitors for a week following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
The zoo has reportedly lost its entire stock of Indian gaur (Bos Gaurus) -- a lookalike of the Indian bison - and 12 blackbucks in the week gone by.
It was confirmed last Friday that the foot-and-mouth virus -- strain 'O' – had caused the death of animals.
The zoo was being sanitized and visitors are being disallowed from entering the premises as a precaution.
"We are applying chemicals in the field near the cages. We are also cleaning up the whole campus. We have closed the zoo because it's a highly contagious disease. Even people passing in front of the cages can get it," said Elcey George, the zoo director.
Animal rights activists have accused the zoo authorities of failing to protect the animals.
Jayasimhan, an activist of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), said it was the government’s responsibility to look often the animals.
The zoo should follow Central Zoo Authority guidelines, Jayasimhan added.
At least a million people visit the scenic 56-acre zoo which houses 72 species of animals.
India had not previously confirmed the presence of the highly contagious disease, which causes severe weight loss in cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle and hogs. (ANI)
Umbrella makers do brisk business
Sunday, July 8, 2007 | MP
Kochi, July 7 (ANI): Seasonal monsoon rains have brought cheer to Kerala’s umbrella makers, as the demand for stylish and colourful umbrellas is high, both among kids and ladies.
Because of this high demand, most manufacturers in the state have come up with their own exclusive showrooms to displays a variety of items.
People are thronging these showrooms, and are amazed by the range available.
It includes a magic umbrella that changes colours when water drops on the picture. There are also umbrellas with music and toys with whistles. The size varies from nine to 30 inches.
For ladies, there is the pocket umbrella, light in weight and the five fold and embroidery umbrellas.
Madhav Pai, a businessman, said: “Compared to last year, the business is very good, mainly among ladies and kids who come to purchase colourful umbrellas. We are running out of stock in our various shops.”
Men prefer the traditional black umbrellas or one’s with long sticks.
The Kochi-based Colombo Umbrellas has also launched ten varieties of umbrellas, including weightless folding umbrellas, bubble shaped umbrellas for kids and umbrellas with cartoon and animal characters, and mobile umbrellas.
K R Babu, Store Manager of Colombo Umbrellas said: “Every year, we introduce new range of products in the market. We give ads for our latest and attractive products so that people come and demand for the same product.”
According to market analysts, companies spend about Rs. 20 crore on advertising alone during the rainy season.
Designer umbrellas are priced between Rs. 150 to 350, and the regular black umbrellas are priced between Rs. 50-150. The kids and ladies ones start from Rs. 150 to 450, depending upon its style, material and folds. Value-added designer umbrellas can cost anywhere from Rs. 250 to 1,500.
These manufacturers also produce beach, golf and old style umbrella which have not many takers in the market.
Raw materials for umbrellas are imported from China and Taiwan, while the assembly is done locally.
The company has a 1500-dealer network in Kerala, and has more than 14 dealers for exclusive showrooms across Kerala.
The five major players in this field possess exclusive shops in each district of Kerala, that comes to over 70, and they are planning to open more by the next monsoon.
There are ten major and minor manufacturers in the state, and it is expected that each manufacturer will sell over 100,000 pieces every season.
Exports to the Middle-East and Europe is also picking up.
One in every three persons buys an umbrella each year in Kerala. This works out for over 10 million umbrellas sold in the state, apart from exporting and sales to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. (ANI)
Swimmer Muraleedharan to swim across English Channel
Friday, July 6, 2007 | MP
Kochi, July 5 (ANI): S P Muraleedharan, a famous long-distance swimmer of Kerala, is aiming to cross the English Channel, a 21-mile course between England and France, for a second time.
In 2003, the young swimmer failed to cross because of adverse climatic conditions and lack of sponsorship. This time, however, he is confident about achieving his goal.
"Last time, I had to discontinue my challenge because of the high tide and the sea got rough. I had a mussel stretch as I was swimming against waves. But this time, I am well prepared and hope to cross it successfully", said Muraleedharan.
If he succeeds, Muraleedharan will be the fifth Indian to swim the English Channel.
Presently, he is practicing rigorously under the guidance of Coach Anand Pardesi of Mumbai and is ready to swim the USA Catalina Channel at the end of this month.
Pardesi believes Muraleedharan possesses both ability and confidence to cross the channel successfully. Muraleedharan swims for two to five hours daily. His speed, diet and power is also being monitored.
Muraleedharan started to learn the basics of swimming at 21.
In 2001, he proved his ability by swimming 21 km on the Kavanattinkara-Puthanangadi route in Kerala. This was followed by another feat in Punnamada backwaters in 2002 by swimming continuously for 16 hours.
His major international attempt was in 2005 when he crossed 26.7 km of water in Zurich and followed it up with a 36 km swim in Mumbai.
Muraleedharan will be leaving to US this month to fulfil formalities for crossing the 22-mile Catalina Channel, which he says is similar to the English Channel. (ANI)
Pratibha Patil to kick off campaign in Kerala
Friday, July 6, 2007 | MP
Thiruvananthapuram, July 5 (ANI): UPA-Left presidential nominee Pratibha Patil will kick off her election campaign here today for the July 19 presidential elections.
Pratibha Patil will be welcomed by Defence Minister A K Antony, Congress leaders and the party observer for the presidential elections, Vinayakumar Sorke.
During her visit, Pratibha Patil will meet all legislators and MPs of the state.
The meeting will be attended by all 140 assembly members belonging to the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and National Congress Party (NCP).
Antony, the Congress Working Committee member in charge of Kerala affairs Veerappa Moily, Sorke and the AICC secretary in charge of Kerala, Shantaram Naik, will also be present.
On Friday, Patil will leave for Chennai. (ANI)
Stray Kerala dogs face keyhole surgery
Thursday, July 5, 2007 | MP
Kochi, July 3 (ANI): The killing of stray dogs in Kerala, has prompted the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Cochin Corporation to promote Animal Birth Control (ABC) by starting a keyhole surgery drive for stray dogs to control their reproductive ability.
M.K. Sethumadhavan, District Secretary of the SPCA, said it is the best way to control the birth rate of stray dogs, adding that “In few years the menace will be over in the cities of Kerala.”
The drive was started here recently by SPCA officials and veterinary doctors at the Mattancherry Veterinary Hospital by conducting keyhole surgeries on eleven stray dogs - seven female and four male.
“The dogs are first given vitamins vaccinations and devorming medicines a day before the operation. By applying local anaesthesia, the surgery is performed. This has no side effect on the dogs which are released as soon as it recovers,” said Jaison George, the person in-charge of the ABC programme.
In keyhole surgery, male dogs and bitches ed by removing the testicles and uterus respectively.
A good doctor can perform upto ten surgeries a day. Doctors undertaking such surgeries are provided with sterilized operation kits and syringe sets.
After the operation and the post recovery period, the dogs are released at the place from where they were caught. Dogs are kept in cells for a day before surgery and three days after surgery.
The Kochi unit of the Society for Prevention of Cruelties to Animals (SPCA) is spreading this message among the masses even a year after its formal launch.
The main aim of the programme is to give hands on training to local vets.
The SPCA has been provided with a fund of rupees 445/- for each dog, which includes medicine, surgery equipment, vaccinations and other expenses.
For the first phase, a financial assistance for 500 dogs is provided to the SPCA. It has targeted 1000 keyhole surgeries in the coming days.
The Cochin Corporation is the first in the state to undertake this programme.
According to a study done in Hyderabad and other places, this is the best way to control the birth of dogs. (ANI)
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