Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Mumbai: Renowned Konkani writer, dramatist Joe D’Souza no more

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Mumbai : 

Well-known veteran Konkani writer and dramatist Joe D’Souza passed away peacefully at his residence on Thursday September 5. He was 87

Joe D’Souza hailed from Karkala and was residing in Everard Nagar, Sion. Fof the past 5 decades, he has been known among people for his social service.

In Mumbai, he founded Karkala dramatic association and encouraged several drama artistes by staging shows in various places. He was recognized as a prominent theatre artiste for writing dramas, directing them and acting in them too.

His wife Eliza D’Souza passed away last December. She was also a drama artist.

For his immense service to Konkani theatre, Konkani Welfare Association, Sion honored Joe D’Souza with the title ‘Konkani Ratan’ in October last year.

He is survived by his daughter.

Janet Lawrence D’Souza, vice-president of Maharastra minority commission, prominent Konkani drama actor Kamalaksha Saraf, John D’Silva, president of Fudar Prathisthan, Lawrence Rony D’Souza, vice-president of Bombay Catholic Sabha, Harry R Sequeira Ferrar, convener of Konkani Welfare Association, Sion, working president John Rebello, president Dulcin Furtado, vice-president Leena Pinto, secretary Dennis D’Souza, treasurer Molly Harry Sequeira among others condoled Joe D’Souza’s demise.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daiji World / Home> Mumbai / by Rons Bantwal / DaijiWorld Media Network – Mumbai / September 05th, 2013

Crowds swell at Lalbagh flower show

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
A massive crowd turned up at the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens to enjoy the biannual flower show - Photo: V Sreenivasa Murthy / The Hindu
A massive crowd turned up at the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens to enjoy the biannual flower show – Photo: V Sreenivasa Murthy / The Hindu

Over 50,000 people thronged Lalbagh on Saturday, resulting in windfall collections

Like butterflies, thousands fluttered into Lalbagh on Saturday for the annual Independence Day flower show. According to official figures, over 50,000 people thronged the venue, resulting in windfall collections at the gate.

The show, which was opened to the public on Wednesday, took wing on Friday with nearly 60,000 footfalls thanks to the public holiday for Ramzan. With one more day to go before this long weekend ends, the Horticulture Department expects the total figure to touch two lakh. “We are expecting one lakh people at the very least on Sunday,” said Deputy Director of Horticulture J. Gunavaantha.

The Ikebana display and the flower-laden houseboat appeared to be the biggest draws. Almost every second visitor could be seen walking out with Ikebana showpieces. George and Christina Butcher from England bought such a large display that they had to carry it together with the taxi driver, who brought them to the venue. “We don’t know how we will take this back with us. But we couldn’t not buy them,” said Mr. Butcher. “I have never seen something so beautiful,” gushed his wife.

TRAUMA OF TRAFFIC

However, the city’s meagre infrastructure once again played the party pooper. The roads leading to Lalbagh were clearly in no shape to bear the extra load. Negotiating traffic on Lalbagh Double Road, J.C. Road and Hosur Road is a tortuous experience even on a normal day. But on Saturday, these roads were practically impenetrable.

The jam on K.H. Road extended all the way to Richmond Circle Flyover. The situation was not too different at Dairy Circle, Lalbagh West Gate and Main Gate junctions as well as the R.V. Road Junction. Special arrangements were made at the multistorey parking lot at the Shanti Nagar KSRTC bus depot as well as the BBMP multistorey parking lot on J.C. Road.

Yet, hundreds could be seen stalling on the road waiting for a parking spot and blocking traffic. Policemen were at their wits end trying to wave these vehicles forward but they stuck to their ground. Commuters arguing with each other and with overworked traffic constables was a common sight throughout the day.

The crowd displayed their lack of civic sense by littering the venue. It was a sad contrast: lily and chrysanthemum blooms on one side; chocolate wrappers, ice-cream sticks and corn cobs on the other.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by Staff Reporter / Bangalore – August 11th, 2013

‘SILK INDIA-2013’: Expo-cum-sale of pure silk sarees and silk products

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

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Mysore :

“Abhivridhi”, an Association assisting Artisans and Weavers, established in Mysore, which has successfully exhibited Pure Silk, Silk Cotton and Silk products throughout South India, has organised a six-day exhibition- cum-sale ‘Silk India – 2013’ for the second time in city from Aug. 29 to Sept. 3 at Hotel Regaalis.

The aim of the organisation is to provide access to products directly to the customers from the weavers and artisans. Various Silk Saree Weavers, Handloom Clusters and Silk Cooperative Societies will exhibit their products at more than 40 stalls.

Tassar silk sarees and suit, Kanchi Silk, designer fancy Sarees, Darmavaram silk sarees, handloom silk cotton Sarees, silk blends sarees & stole, silk shawls, silk blends fabrics and furnishing,Bomkai Sarees, hand block print sarees, silk bed covers, Assam Muga fabrics, Apoorva silk sarees, Baluchuri Sarees, Bhagalpur suits and Butti sarees, Karnataka silk sarees, Chanderi silk sarees and suit, Kota silk, Mulberry silk with temple border, Banaras Jamdani etc., will be on display.

The exhibition will be open daily from 10.30 am to 8.30 pm.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / August 27th, 2013

The entrepreneurial spirit that doesn’t deter these two women from selling food on the streets

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

I was strolling down the lanes of an upcoming Bangalore suburb when I came across a stall run by two women selling food items. They were very well dressed and if they stood in a crowd, no one could pick them apart from the regular IT crowd in Bangalore. And the surprising part is that they are IT Professionals. Well, atleast one of them still is while the other quit her job 3 years ago.

(L to R) Divya Anne Joseph, Cheryl George, Anto Roy
(L to R) Divya Anne Joseph, Cheryl George, Anto Roy

The two women in question are Cheryl George and Divya Anne Joseph who both were in their typical IT jobs when they felt this pang to do something more. Acting on their gut, they decided to work to their strength which was cooking and setup a stall outside their building in February 2013. Their friend Anto Roy also joined them with the endeavor. They tried the mobile stall concept to begin with but half of their day went in just explaining what they were doing and they weren’t seeing many returns. Hence they decided to stick to one place and setup the stall outside their building.

They have a Facebook Page where they update the menu (usually snacks and light dinner items) and stand on the streets, alongside the coconut vendor and others to sell their items. And it’s not something they did for a few weeks. The team of three have persisted and it’s been more than 6 months now where they stand out (in all weathers) and take in the joy of serving. “We’re not doing this for money or to build a grand business, we’re doing it for the joy we get out of it,” says Cheryl.

The ladies cook at their home and the three of them then bring the items to the stall in their cars. Anto Roy handles the other stall and the two stall together are serving around 80-90 customers every day. They call themselves ‘Street Eats’ and their average ticket size is around INR 50.

Divya is into this fulltime while Cheryl still holds her job. They don’t have immediate plans to scale and formalize but are taking it as it comes. “We’re really enjoying what we are doing and the kind of people we’re meeting everyday is just phenomenal!” says the team in chorus.

This is the kind of spirit that thrills us here at YourStory and gives us the motivation to go out there discover more such interesting people. Follow StreetXEats on Facebook.

source: http://www.yourstory.in / Your Story / Home / by Jubin Mehta / August 10th, 2013

Taste and feel of Uttara Karnataka

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
A Food stall at the 'Uttara Karnataka Utsava' organised by the Uttara Karnataka Nagareekara Abhivruddhi Vedike at Palace grounds in Bangalore./ Photo : K . Bhagya Prakash / The Hindu
A Food stall at the ‘Uttara Karnataka Utsava’ organised by the Uttara Karnataka Nagareekara Abhivruddhi Vedike at Palace grounds in Bangalore./ Photo : K . Bhagya Prakash / The Hindu

If you want to experience the art, culture and distinct cuisine of north Karnataka, head to Palace Grounds over the weekend to witness the Uttara Karnataka Utsava 2013.

When you enter, you’re greeted by loud percussion and the sight of men and women performing the ‘dollu kunita’. On display are stalls selling paintings, traditional clothes and handicraft — Ilkal saris from Bagalkot, cotton towels, the Gandhi cap, a traditional north Karnataka accessory for men — but food remains the star attraction.

Businessman Ranganath said, “I tasted the mandakki and it was a change compared to the food we eat regularly. I will try the jolada rotiand brinjal curry next.”

Virupaksha B.T., whose stall, Jolaa, had a large number of visitors, said, “Our food has a lot of variety and our USP is the spiciness. It is special, yet it is like homemade food.” Of course, a wide variety of pickles and chutney powders are also a big draw.

After all that spice, you may need some sugar andkaradantu, a sweet made of dryfruits, would be ideal. Mahantesh Savaligeppa Aiholli of Pooja Sweets said he was the third generation of a family that has been selling the sweet from Aminagad, Bagalkot, since 1907. He explained to a perplexed customer, “This sweet is made of cashew, badam, pista, raisins, dried coconut and jaggery procured from Belgaum.”

The Dharwad peda, kunda and peanut laddus are also there to add to your sugar rush.

However, there were some visitors who were disappointed. Kasturi Devandrakumar, an artist said, “The food stalls have hogged all the limelight. It could have been better if there was more emphasis on the art and culture of the region.”

The fair is on till August 11.

WELFARE

Earlier, speaking at the inauguration, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government was keen to work for the welfare of the people of the north Karnataka region. They had accepted all recommendations made by the Cabinet sub-committee on the implementation of Article 371(J) of the Constitution, providing special status to the Hyderabad Karnataka region.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by Staff Reporter / Bangalore – August 10th, 2013

Bangalore to host world’s biggest science festival

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The widely celebrated Edinburgh International Science Festival will be on from August 30 to September 8 at Bhartiya City.

You may not be a surgeon, or a perfumer, or even a scientist; but here’s a chance to play one and have a gala time while you are at it. Come August 30, and the world’s largest science festival—Edinburgh International Science Festival (EISF)—will be in town.

For the first time, this well-known science event will be held India in the form of EISF-India. Bangalore is hosting the EISF-India at Bhartiya City near Hebbal and the event will go on till September 8.

According to the website www.sciencefestival.co.uk, which has details on the ESIF-India, the crowd pullers at the show are expected to be the four engaging workshops—ER (Evergreen Room) Surgery, Splat-tastic, Pongy Potions and World of Bubbles—which promise to keep people of all ages, especially children, engrossed with almost real-life situations in the science and medical world.

In the ER Surgery, visitors can actually go through all the steps of performing an emergency surgery in a simulated conditions on a ‘patient’ and actual surgeons will provide details on how to go about it.

Splat-tastic will lure you to experiments involving the generation of slimes and learn about polymers, and also test the viscosity of your slimy creations on a ‘splat-o-meter’; while Pongy Potions will transform you into a chemist who can actually produce, say, perfumes on the go using a fair amount of chemistry.

Children may get a real kick out of Bubble Magic, which involves creating various interesting shapes out of bubbles ranging from the tiniest of them to unbelievably huge ones.

Over the past 25 years, the festival has been making science fun, exciting and engaging for young minds, EISF and Bhartiya City officials said.

They have planned an array of interactive workshops, live shows and exhibits, besides a science circus, an international nature photo exhibition, forensic science experiments, illusion room, smoke bonanza and lego robosports, which will keep people belonging to all age groups enthralled.

Eight of EISF’s specially trained science communicators will travel to Bangalore to deliver the workshops and train the local teams ahead of the event.

EISF–India is being presented jointly with Bhartiya City, in association with Art Konnect and MyCity4Kids, and is being supported by the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund.

According to EISF, the Bangalore event could be a starting point to create and develop more science festivals across the country over the next five years.

Simon Gage, director and CEO, EISF, said: “This festival is a bold first step in our plans to present more work in India and to bring our science festival to a nation that is currently making incredible advances in science and technology.”

Snehdeep Aggarwal, founder-chairman, Bhartiya City, said: “It (EISF’s foray into India) will engage our youth and spark their curiosity in science and technology.”

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Bangalore> Report / by DNA Correspondent / Place: Bangalore, Agency: DNA / Friday, August 09th, 2013

Engineering a Roof-Top tent : Campers’ Style

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Science & Technology, Travel

RoofTopBF28aug2013

Mysore  :

A city-based mechanical engineer’s passion for outdoor adventures has led him to build a tent on the roof of his Chevrolet Tavera four-wheeler.

C.S. Ramaswamy, the owner of Sumuki Associates which designs, develops and manufactures machinery and equipment at Lakshmipuram in city, says he always wanted to build a mobile shelter that was practical and affordable.

When asked about what inspired him to build such an innovative equipment, he said that 25 years ago, a foreign magazine carried a photo of a jeep with camping equipments on the roof top and since then, it had become his dream to design a tent on the roof of his father’s Ambassador car. “Unfortunately my creation could not be mounted on it as the car was sold three months ago.” After this, it seems he decided to design the tent to be mounted on his Tavera.

Recalling his inspiration for the mobile shelter, Ramaswamy said that years ago when he and his friends who were into photography and adventure went out, sometimes they would get stuck in the rain and since then he wanted to invent a mobile shelter.

Ramaswamy began to work on a solution for this ‘rainy’ problem way back 1979 in his garage workshop set up at his residence by his encouraging father by tinkering with his father’s scooter, trying to change its body shape and improvise a shelter over the seats.

Now speaking of his mountable tent, Ramaswamy said the tent is made of imported waterproof fabric measuring 8ftx8ft and weighing approximately 80 kgs. The tent also houses many essential camping accessories such as rocket stoves, chemical toilets, change room and compact showers. “In fact, it is a star mobile hotel room,” he says in delight. But he is not far from truth; this is indeed a luxury when out camping in a forest and all this right on top of one’s vehicle.

Ramaswamy says this is a design he came up with after many tries and once he had the design in place, he single-handedly built the tent. “The work began in May and was completed in August of this year,” he said.

He said that the tent can be custom-built for any car ranging from a SUV to even the most compact cars like Nano, albeit the smaller the roof, the lesser number of people it can accommodate.

Ramaswamy feels his tent is a great solution especially for people who want to trek and travel in India where camp facilities do not exist. Also the fact that the tent can be set up in jiffy makes it even more practical. “The tent is easy to set up even in the dark, and can be easily folded back in the morning,” says Ramaswamy.

These, he says, are not meant only for campers and adventurers. “It can be useful during disaster management and can also be used by the army, forest per- sonnel & security forces, site managers in remote areas, field scientists, outdoor shooting crew, media etc.” When asked about the cost involved in making the rooftop tent, he said that it cost him Rs. 52,000. Ramaswamy says he doesn’t plan to mass manufacture it but if any one wants one, he would build it for them. Interestingly, he has good hands to support him from his wife Savithri, his eldest son Shravan also a mechanical engineer and younger son Pranav an IP student at NIE. Looks like many more innovations may come out of this innovative family. Ramaswamy can be contacted on email- sumukiassociates@gmail.com.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by S. Kenneth Shishir / August 22nd, 2013

Selling Soda & Nostalgia

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

SodaBF27aug2013

Mysore :

It’s been 61 years now. When we started the shop, the rent was Rs.75 and I was 20,” says Nagaraja Rao, one of the three brothers who started the Soda Factory at Agrahara in city.

The drinks parlour once called ‘The Soda Factory’ has been now renamed ‘Sri Prasanna Cool Centre’ but the old-timers prefer to call it ‘Soda Factory.’ The shop is a throwback to the 1950s with its white textured walls, old tables, an array of colourful rainbow of syrups filled in glass bottles that sit behind the doors. The shop offers more than 10 different soda-based drinks but their popular ones are ‘Sogade Beru soda’ (a drink made of sogade plant root which is good for heart and cholesterol) and surprisingly, a non-soda drink- ‘Rose milk’ !

The Soda Factory opened its doors on February 2, 1954. It was headed by three brothers Nagaraja Rao, Achyutha Rao and Anantha Rao. Over the years, they have experimented with various flours and have set a simple menu that is refreshing and healthy. The homemade soda simply mixes the carbonated water from the soda fountain that’s poured into a glass filled with any combination of flavours. They are known for their homemade soda paired with their locally acquired Sogade Beru and Lemon-lime.

In fact, old Mysoreans still visit them and even the ones who are living outside when they visit Mysore make sure to drop in, says Nagaraja Rao. Also the brothers take turns running the shops.

One of the brothers, Achyutha Rao, who was on a break after preparing Lime Pepper Soda says, “We have seen Mysore changing over all these years. We want people to remember how things once were. There are people who bring their grandkids here and tell them how they remember it. We sell Soda and Nostalgia” and smiles.

Today this soda shop continues to exist, but leads a quiet existence thanks to locals and old times who want a trip down the nostalgia lane.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Sumukh Bharadwaj / August 21st, 2013

M’lore: The 3 Hungry Men’s – Mission: ImPIZZAble – The Pizza Eating Competition in city on Aug

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Mangalore :

This EID Mangalore is all set and geared up for a Pizza Eating Competition to be organized by The 3 Hungry Men – Mangalore’s first and only food reviewing body in association with City Center Mall and Pizza Hut – Mangalore as a EID Special.

This event is called The 3 Hungry Men’s – Mission ImPIZZAble, which is scheduled to be held on 9th August 2013 at Mangalore City Centre Mall from evening 4PM to 7PM.

On further updates from the organizers Nikhil Pai – (co-founder of The 3 Hungry Men) said, ‘this time we are not going to keep and entry fee but there will be a charity box kept for people who would like to donate to the victims of the Uttarakhand flood.’
Colin D’Souza, co-founder The 3 Hungry Men also said, ‘there is no age limit and everyone can participate for free.  The only condition he added was that the participant has to be hungry.’

He further said. ‘we are expecting a good turnout from all age groups as it is EID and everyone loves to come out.’
The 3 Hungry Men founded by Nikhil Pai and Colin D’souza are well known for their Reviews on Restaurants who never miss a chance to check out and try out what’s new in the menu. They have daily updates on food and recommendations on their facebook page with more than 4000 odd members following them daily.

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It doesn’t stop them just there apart from their regular food  updates from Mangalore and other places around they have been very well known and appreciated for their food eating events past 3 years since their existence.

In the past they have had similar events like Chicken Eating Competitions , Ice Creams, Biryanis and lots more.
This time they keep it open for all with no entry fee charged to participate and take the pizza challenge but apart from just eating they will also be having a charity box where they would be requesting people to Donate as much as possible for the Uttarakhand Flood Relief Fund which would be further handed over to the DC of Mangalore by the Mall Authorities to reach out to the proper sources.

source: http://www.bellevision.com / Bellevision.com / Home> News / by Media Release / Mangalore – August 09th, 2013

He uses art to mould young patriots

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders

Davanagere :

Inculcating the spirit of patriotism in young minds is his objective. Painting portraits of freedom fighters is his passion. GJMehandale who has been working for 30 years as drawing teacher at AdityaBirla Public School, Kumarapatnam, in Renebennurtaluk ofHaveri has been pursuing his passion with an objective.

He has made the portraits of over 100 Indian freedom fighters using water proof  ink on khadi cloth of 4×5 feet size. His works include the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi , Motilal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Lokamanya Balagangadhara Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Gopalakrishna Gokhale, Bipinchandra Pal, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Dadabai Naoroji, Mangal Pande, Rajaram Mohan Roy, Sangolli Rayanna, Jhansi Lakshmi Bai and Kittur Rani Channamma. Mehandale also enjoys collecting the biographies of freedom fighters and has published a handbook of over 100 freedom fighters in Kannada.

Mehandale has organized over 95 exhibitions in schools, colleges, as well as at literary events and other socio-cultural platforms. His paintings have drawn the attention of students and general public  across the state, besides other Indian cities. “I conduct exhibitions with the support of Rashtra Gourava Samrakshana Parishat, a Bangalore-based NGO. Thousands of students and others have so far come to see my paintings,” he says with pride.

Mehandale also displays paintings to commemorate the birth anniversaries of freedom fighters as well as days of historical importance like the Quit India movement day.

Harihar’s DRM school headmaster H Chandrappa said such exhibitions are helpful in developing the spirit of patriotism among youngsters. “They encourage the students to know more about the nation’s history as present school curriculum gives them very less information on the same,” said Bhuvaneshwari, an English teacher.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubli / by S A Gangaraju, TNN / August 15th, 2013