BJP MP Kulkarni irked as Ajit Pawar inaugurates building 'before time'
She missed the early morning event even though she was not late, said Kulkarni who is a member of the Mahamandal (corporation) set up for the Brahmin community.
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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Piety & penance behind Ambalappuzha palpayasam
ALAPPUZHA: The legend of the Ambalappuzha palpayasam is linked to the ruler of Chembakassery, says V J Sreekumar, koima sthani of the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy temple. He ruled over eight 'karas', or regions, including Chambakulam, Nedumudi, Thakazhi, Thalavady, Ambalappuzha, and Alappuzha. The king set up kalaris across his domain which he visited on intervals. On one such visit to the kalari in Thalavady, the king played chess with a local Brahmin landlord. At the time, the king was facing a shortage of paddy seeds due to a grasshopper infestation. He asked the landlord for 5,000 para (an old unit of measure) of seeds, agreeing to return the same after harvest. The Brahmin agreed to comply with the request on the condition that the seeds would be returned with interest. The king directed his minister to ensure that the seeds are returned. But, the latter wilfully neglected the order. After a long while, the landlord travelled to Ambalappuzha to meet the king and seek the return of his seeds. That was when the king realised that he had been cheated by his minister. And, the quantity of seeds that needed to be returned with interest had reached 36,000 para by then. An angry king sent for his minister and ordered that arrangement be made for the return of the seeds. Immediately, the minister dispatched informers to local chieftains asking them to gather seeds from all karas in the realm. What was gathered was piled up in the temple auditorium.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- The Hindu
Fresh mining push in Tumakuru forest raises ecological concerns
The Forest Department has given its consent for diversion of 119.23 acres of forestland in Tumakuru district for mining purpose that will result in axing of nearly 17,200 trees. The proposed mining project is in Thirtharamapura Reserve Forest, and is spread across Gollarahalli, Hosahalli, Kodihalli, Tonalapura, and Lakmenahalli in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk. The department, in its letter dated May 14, 2025, recommended for 'moving the proposal' with the Union government for according 'in-principle' approval of diversion of 119.23 acres or 48.20 hectares of forestland. Incidentally, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had conducted a site inspection close to the current location and had turned down two other mining proposals in the past, by different project proponents. The inspection report carried out by the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Central) in 2017 stated that the area was mined from 1952 to 1998, and the original lease was split to many mining companies by the Department of Mines and Geology in violation of the Forest Conservation Act. The report also stated that 'currently, the forests are showing regeneration and during the visit there were direct sightings of chital, black-naped hare, while scats of sloth bear and leopard were also seen. The area, the report pointed out, sheltered migratory population of elephants from Bannerghatta National Park to Bhadra between September and December. The MoEF&CC also stated that the area was the only watershed for the villages surrounding Chikkanayanakahalli, a drought hit area and hence it would be prudent not to divert it for mining, from the watershed point of view and maintained for ecological restoration. Meanwhile, wildlife conservationist Giridhar Kulkarni has raised alarm over the Forest Department's decision to allow fresh mining in the ecologically sensitive forest areas of Tumakuru district, despite prior rejections of similar proposals by the MoEF&CC. Mr. Kulkarni, in a letter dated June 6, 2025, has appealed to Additional Chief Secretary (Forest, Ecology, and Environment) Anjum Parwez to reject the proposal seeking diversion of forestland for mining on the grounds that the area was rich in wildlife, acts as a critical watershed, and has already suffered from ecologically damaging mining practices in the past. He pointed out that the MoEF&CC inspection report has flagged the potential impact on waterbodies and recommended against any further mining. He warned that if approved, mining will further escalate human-wildlife conflict and undermine the ecological restoration under way in the region. Underlining the imperatives of rejecting the proposal, Mr. Kulkarni said the project will also have a negative bearing on the livelihood of the local communities in and around Chikkanayakanahalli. This is in addition to escalation of human-animal conflict, he added.
New Indian Express
06-06-2025
- New Indian Express
New Visvaksenan idol to replace centuries-old one
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The divine commander-in-chief of the army of Sree Padmanabhaswamy, arguably the richest deity in the country, will get a new avatar on Sunday. A new idol of Visvaksenan will replace the over 280-year-old idol which showed signs of degeneration, believed to be caused by a water leak in the sanctum's roof. The new idol has also been sculpted using 'kadusharkara yogam', a concrete-like mixture prepared from nearly 48 materials, ranging from small conch shells to herbs and sand. It was crafted by Thirukoshtiyur Madhavan, a sculptor from Thirukoshtiyur in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu. 'The old idol of Visvaksenan was installed in the 1739-41 period when the temple underwent a major renovation following a fire. It was made by a Brahmin sculptor, Kesavan Vishnuthrathan,' said historian M G Sasibhooshan. 'The idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy and other idols in the same sanctum too are made of kadusharkara yogam. Idols made of this mixture should not be exposed to water. Hence, the customary abhishekams are made on representative idols made for the purpose,' he told TNIE. He said the flowers used for 'archana' on these idols are picked the previous evening to keep them dry.
