Latest news with #Onam
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Onam celebrations to be organised with common theme this year: Tourism minister
Thiruvananthapuram: Tourism minister P A Mohamed Riyas said that this year's Onam celebrations would be organised with unique programmes. He was speaking at an organising committee meeting held in the state capital. Onam celebrations would be based on a common theme, including a general design. The procession would also follow this theme. Consideration would be given to mixing programmes based on the facilities available at the venues, he said. The tourism minister said that the police would be instructed to arrange security for the public to enjoy lighting decorations until 1am. Minister V Sivankutty, who chaired the meeting, emphasised that green protocol committee should focus on matters such as waste management. Awareness about waste management would also be considered. A food festival would also be organised, the minister said. Additionally, marketing fairs would be organised in a noteworthy manner, he said.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Did saree label 'Suta' copy a design from 'Rouka'? Designer Sreejith Jeevan calls out the brand for copying his design
Designer Sreejith Jeevan of Rouka by Sreejith Jeevan, has ignited a debate about plagiarism in Indian fashion. He subtly called out Suta, a popular saree brand, for allegedly copying his designs, particularly an ivory saree with red floral appliqué. While avoiding legal action due to resource constraints, Jeevan seeks acknowledgment of original work. There's fashion inspiration and then there's fashion imitation. And it looks like beloved saree label Suta may have crossed the line. In a heartfelt Instagram video posted on July 31, designer Sreejith Jeevan, the creative force behind Kerala-based brand Rouka by Sreejith Jeevan, finally addressed something that's clearly been bothering him (and many other designers) for a while now: plagiarism in fashion. While Sreejith didn't name names in the original video, his followers did all the talking. Soon after, Instagram Stories flooded in showing screenshots of a Suta saree that looked strikingly similar to one Rouka has been retailing, an ivory drape with red floral appliqué. Followers began tagging Suta directly, calling them out for what appeared to be a not-so-subtle copy. In his video, Sreejith admitted that this wasn't the first time his work had been 'borrowed.' Since 2015, he's been creating Onam collections that are deeply rooted in Kerala's culture and minimalism, something he's seen slowly being picked up (and not always credited) by brands whose aesthetic had never been remotely similar before. While he once brushed it off with the age-old 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,' he revealed that seeing a direct copy of a design from 2019-2020, right down to the artwork, was the final straw But what really struck a chord was how open he was about the emotional toll. Sreejith shared how people would DM him about the similarities but hesitate to speak up publicly. 'They'd message me screenshots and say, 'This looks like yours!' But when I asked them to call it out, they'd say, 'No no no, we can't put it out,'' he said. And honestly, he gets it. Not everyone wants to get into messy fashion fights. But that silence added to his sense of helplessness. Legal action? Not worth it, Sreejith explained. As an independent designer, spending time and money on court cases isn't practical. 'We don't want to pour resources into IP battles, we just want people to acknowledge where something came from,' he said. And that's exactly what happened this time. His brave decision to finally speak up triggered an outpouring of support from the fashion community, with many coming forward to say, 'Hey, Rouka did it first. ' While Suta hasn't officially responded yet, the internet is buzzing. One thing's for sure, conversations around design ethics and original creativity in Indian fashion are long overdue. And this incident? It's definitely sparked one.
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Kerala govt. announces mega market interventions to ease festival costs during Onam
Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil has announced a slew of market intervention initiatives by the State government ahead of the Onam festival season. The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) will organise 10-day Onam mega fairs in all districts from August 26 and five-day fairs in all of the 140 Assembly constituencies from August 25. Mobile Onam markets will be organised in all constituencies, aimed at delivering foodgrains and essential commodities even in remote regions. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the State-level Onam fair at Putharikandam Maidan in Thiruvananthapuram on August 25. Addressing a media conference here on Thursday, Mr. Anil said Supplyco will offer rice and coconut oil at highly subsidised rates during the Onam season. While 8 kg of rice per ration card is presently being distributed at subsidy rates, an additional 20 kg of raw or parboiled rice will be made available at a special Onam price of ₹25/kg. With coconut oil prices on the rise, Supplyco has negotiated new tenders and will distribute Sabari brand oil at both subsidised (₹349 per litre, ₹179 for 500 ml) and non-subsidised rates (₹429 per litre, ₹219 for 500 ml). Coconut oil of other brands will also be sold below maximum retail price. Sunflower, palm and rice bran oil will also be available at Supplyco outlets. Onam kits The Minister also informed that over 6 lakh Onam kits, each containing 15 essential items packed in a cloth bag, will be distributed to AAY ration cardholders and welfare institutions between August 18 and September 2. The Food and Civil Supplies Department has also reduced the prices of red cowpea and toor dal to ₹70/kg (from ₹75) and ₹93/kg (from ₹105) respectively. The quantity of subsidised chilli has been doubled to 1 kg per cardholder at ₹115.5/kg. All subsidised items, except coconut oil, are already available at Supplyco outlets. Sabari products Supplyco is all set to introduce five new Sabari brand products, viz., semiya and palada payasam mix, sugar, salt, and Palakkadan Matta 'vadi' and 'unda' rice varieties. These will be formally launched at Supplyco headquarters on August 18. Processed and packaged rice-based items like puttu and appam powders will also be sold at competitive prices. According to Mr. Anil, Supplyco recorded ₹183 crore in sales last Onam season. This year, the agency has fixed a target of at least ₹250 crore. Priority cards The Minister also announced that 43,000 new families will receive priority ration cards before Onam. Online applications for new priority cards will open from September 16 to October 15. Besides, ration cardholders across all categories will receive enhanced rice quotas (in addition to their existing allocations) during the festive season. AAY (yellow) card holders will receive additional 1 kg sugar, while PHH (pink) card holders will get additional 5 kg rice at a rate of ₹10.90/kg, NPS (blue) card holders an additional 10 kg rice at a rate of ₹10.90/kg, and NPNS (white) card holders will receive a total of 15 kg rice at a rate of ₹10.90/kg. All ration cardholders will receive their kerosene quotas as well.
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Kudumbashree will launch special gift hampers for Onam
Kudumbashree will launch special gift hampers on the occasion of Onam which can be ordered through its e-commerce platform Pocketmart. A total of 5,000 gift hampers consisting of nine essential products for Onam will be available at a cost of ₹799 each. Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh said that 50,000 Onam kits with same products will be made available in the open market. Speaking after inaugurating a media workshop on Kudumbashree in the capital on Thursday, the Minister said that Kudumbashree will also be running Onam trade melas in all district centres as well as at the panchayat-level as part of its market intervention efforts during the Onam season. Training for women He said that skill training will be provided to three lakh women as part steps towards increasing women's participation in the labour force from 20% to 50%. Having almost achieved its founding aim of poverty alleviation, the focus of the Kudumbashree now will be on raising the income of women.
New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Southern Railway announces multiple Onam special trains to clear holiday rush
KOZHIKODE: Southern Railway has announced special trains for the Onam festival to clear the expected rush of passengers during the festive season. According to a statement from the zonal railway, Train No. 06119 Dr MGR Chennai Central – Kollam Weekly Express Special will depart Dr MGR Chennai Central at 3.10 p.m. on 27 August, 3 and 10 September (Wednesdays) and will reach Kollam at 6.40 a.m. the following day. In the return direction, Train No. 06120 Kollam – Dr MGR Chennai Central Weekly Express Special will depart Kollam at 10.40 a.m. on 28 August, 4 and 11 September (Thursdays) and will reach Dr MGR Chennai Central at 3.30 a.m. the following day. These trains will have a coach composition of 15 AC Three Tier Economy Coaches and 2 Luggage-cum-Brake Vans. The trains will stop at Perambur, Thiruvallur, Arakkonam, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam North, Kottayam, Changanassery, Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Mavelikara, Kayankulam, Karunagapalli and Sasthankotta. Train No. 06041 Mangaluru Jn – Thiruvananthapuram North Bi-Weekly Express Special will leave Mangaluru Jn at 7.30 p.m. on 21, 23, 28 and 30 August and 4, 6, 11 and 13 September (Thursdays and Saturdays), and will reach Thiruvananthapuram North at 8 a.m. the next day. In the return direction, Train No. 06042 Thiruvananthapuram North – Mangaluru Jn Bi-Weekly Express Special will depart Thiruvananthapuram North at 5.15 p.m. on 22, 24, 29 and 31 August and 5, 7, 12 and 14 September (Fridays and Sundays), and will arrive at Mangaluru Jn at 6.30 a.m. the next day.
