Two-day Rani Abbakka Utsava from today
The annual two-day Rani Abbakka Utsava will be held at Kolya near Someshwar from February 3. It will be inaugurated by writer Vaidehi.
Chandrahas Rai B., Assistant Director, Kannada and Culture Department, Dakshina Kannada, said the programme will begin with a procession of folk artistes from Bhagavati English Medium School to the Rani Abbakka Utsava Grounds at 3 p.m.
After the inauguration at 5 p.m., there will be a cultural competition. There will also be State-level women wrestling competition and district-level football competition.
On February 4, a seminar on ‘Freedom movement and role of women’ will be inaugurated by journalist R. Poornima at 10.30 a.m. There will be a talk by Meenakshi Ramachandra on ‘Thoughts and war strategies of Rani Abbakka’.
A multilingual poet meet of women will be held at 3 p.m. Writer Sara Aboobacker and actor Vinaya Prasad will receive Rani Abbakka awards, he said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States / by Special Correspondent / Mangaluru – February 03rd, 2018
Kalaburagi student honoured with Junior Scientist Award
Praveen Kumar V., a geology student from Central University of Karnataka (CUK), Kalaburagi, has been honoured with the Junior Scientist Award of 2017 for his research on the earth and the environment.
The award was conferred by International Foundation of Environment and Ecology (IFEE), Kolkata, at the fourth international seminar held at Guwahati, Assam, recently.
Mr. Kumar was the one among the ten students and the only one from Karnataka selected for the award that is given to young achievers under the age of 32 in the field of earth sciences.
A joint committee of Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi and IFEE, Kolkata, had been formed to select the achievers for the award.
Groundwater recharge
The CUK authorities said that Mr. Kumar’s research on earth and environment, particularly on artificial recharge of groundwater, water management and conservation, hydrology, solid waste management, the impact of solid waste on surface water and disparity in rains had got him the prestigious award.
With an M.Sc. and a B.Sc. in geology from CUK, Mr. Kumar is presently pursuing a Ph.D. under the guidance of Mohammad Aslam at CUK. University Vice-Chancellor H.M. Maheshwaraiah, in a release, congratulated the young scientist and expressed his commitment to create a conducive and research-friendly environment in CUK.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Kalaburagi – February 21st, 2018
Kanaka Durgamma Sidi in Ballari
Tens of thousands of devotees congregated to witness the annual Sri Kanaka Durgamma Sidi here on Tuesday.
Sri Kanaka Durgamma is the principal deity of the city and devotees spread across not only Ballari but also from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh come to witness the event and also worship the goddess.
As has been the practice during the Sidi Bandi festival, an idol, symbolising evil, is hung on a pole with hooks, and tied to a cart pulled by three pairs of bullocks, owned by the Ganiga community, and taken round the temple thrice with the belief that it would protect all from evils.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Ballari – February 28th, 2018
110 bird species recorded at Mangalagangothri
Birders from Mangalore University were able to record 110 species of birds during the Campus Bird Counting (CBC), an initiative taken up under Great Backyard Bird Count of Bird Count India, during the three-day bird-counting exercise between February 16 and 19 at the university’s Mangalagangothri campus in Konaje near here.
While the initiative began in 2016, when 77 species of birds were recorded. The number rose to 95 last year. Though the number of species recorded this year is higher, several species recorded earlier were found to be missing, according to a release from the organisers. The increase in numbers indicates the possibility of the presence of more species on the campus — something that can be recorded with more continuous efforts.
CBC is a collaborative effort to document bird life on campuses across the country, to gather information about the diversity, distribution and frequency of bird species outside the protected areas. As many as 230 campuses across India registered for this year’s CBC, including 23 from Karnataka .
Mangalore University, spread over an area of 300 acres, is home to a variety of avian fauna. Birders from the university have been actively participating in the CBC for the past three years.
This year, the team was led by K. Vineeth Kumar, Jagdish Paithankar (both research scholars), and M.Sc students U. J. Bhagya and Donald Preetam Henry from the Department of Applied Zoology.
Students and research scholars from various postgraduate departments of the university, with a few staffers of the university as well as P.A. College of Engineering and Ambika Vidyalaya and Govinda Dasa College, along with a few independent birdwatchers from Mangaluru, participated in the initiative.
Some rare birds found during the survey include the Sri Lanka frogmouth, Savanna nightjar, common hoopoe, Black-headed ibis, Small minivet, Tickell’s blue flycatcher, Yellow-wattled lapwing, White-browed bulbul, Plum-headed parakeet, and Indian roller.
Migratory species recorded during the CBC include Indian Pitta, Brown shrike, Booted eagle, Ashy Drongo, Blyth’s reed Warbler, Green/Greenish Warbler, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Eurasian Blackbird, Gray wagtail, and Blyth’s Pipit.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangaluru / by Special Correspondent / Mangaluru – February 28th, 2018
Kannada film industry mourns death of iconic actor Sridevi
Biffes paid tributes to legendary actor
The Kannada film fraternity expressed shock and grief over the sudden demise of actor Sridevi, who died of a cardiac arrest in Dubai late on Saturday, as it cast a shadow of gloom over the ongoing 10th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes).
Before the day’s schedule began on Sunday, BIFFes officials mourned the untimely death of the veteran actor, who had proven her acting prowess in films irrespective of language. Members, officials, patrons, actors and technicians offered their condolences.
Sridevi has acted in a few Kannada films in her five-decade career in celluloid. She had acted in Bhakta Kumbara (1974) directed by Hunsur Krishnamurthy along with Dr. Rajkumar, Leelavathi, Manjula and others as child artist. Her other films as a child artist include Bala Bharata, Sampoorna Ramayanam and Yashoda Krishna. Later, she essayed a role in Hennu Samsarada Kannu (1975) directed A.V. Sheshagiri Rao along with yesteryear Kannada stars Srinath, Manjula, K.S. Ashwath, Balakrishna, Shivaram, Ashok, Leelavathi. This was in fact actor Ashok’s first Kannada film opposite Sridevi.
Sridevi acted opposite Ambarish in Priya (1978), which was made in Tamil and Kannada by S.P. Muthurraman. Star-turned politician Rajinikanth also essayed a major character in this film. Priya was a blockbuster and ran for over 175 days in the theatres and still considered as huge box office hit.
Her co-star in Bhakta Kumbara and Hennu Samsarada Kannu, Leelavathi recalled the time when Sridevi sought her blessings. “She was glamorous actor who grew up in front of our eyes and is now no more,” said a teary-eyed Leelavathi.
Tributes
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paid rich tributes to departed actor. In his condolence message, Mr, Siddaramaiah, who is also a film buff said he was deeply shocked by the sad demise of Sridevi, who was an epitome of beauty. Her death has created a vacuum in the Indian film industry, he said.
Union Minister Ananth Kumar, former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy also paid tributes to departed actor. Mr. Ananth Kumar, in his tweet, said: “Deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of sudden death of versatile actor, #Sridevi. She will be remembered for her brilliant portrayal in many unique roles. Condolences to her family & fans.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Movies> Sridevi – The Full Story / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – February 25th, 2018
INTACH takes up restoration of paintings at St. Aloysius Chapel
Mangaluru chapter to document Guttu houses
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has taken up the restoration of old paintings at St. Aloysius Chapel in the city since a month, according to its chairman Major Gen. L.V. Gupta (retd).
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Mangaluru chapter of the INTACH here on Thursday, he said: “We are glad that the church has invested in this work. Please do visit the chapel and see the laboratory set up for restoration work.”
Stressing the need to protect and conserve heritage monuments and structures, he said that no country can be great without its heritage.
Mr. Gupta said that largely people are ignorant of India’s diverse history and heritage.
“Only 7,500 monuments have so far been declared as protected monuments. As per an estimate by INTACH, there are five million heritage sites in the country. Many of these monuments and structures are unprotected. They were being destroyed for lack of awareness of heritage value of these monuments,” he said.
He said the INTACH was working on listing and documentation of heritage structures and monuments and asking the government and people to protect them.
Subash Basu, convener of INTACH Mangaluru chapter, said that the chapter will document old Guttu houses and also visit houses of fishermen and artisans to document the way they build their houses.
They will work to revive some traditional methods of building houses that includes use of mud, timber and lime for construction.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangaluru / by Special Correspondent / Mangaluru – February 23rd, 2018
3D planetarium at Pilikula to open on March 1
The public can view shows from March 2
The Swami Vivekananda Planetarium at the Dr. Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisargadhama here will be inaugurated on March 1.
The planetarium, on the premises of Regional Science Centre, will be thrown open to public from March 2.
According to Sasikanth Senthil S., Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada and chairman of the governing council of the nisargadhama, it is the first planetarium in the country having active 3D, 8K digital and opto-mechanical (hybrid) projection system.
Addressing presspersons after a preview show at the planetarium on Saturday, he said there would be six shows daily. The entry fee would be ₹60 per adult per show and ₹25 for children. People can book online tickets through ‘BookMyShow’ from February 27.
For those who attend the inaugural ceremony on Thursday, free passes would be given for the next two day shows, he said.
Mr. Senthil said the nisargadhama would introduce a comprehensive fee package of ₹100 per head per person from March 1. With this, visitors can see all tourist attractions inside the nisargadhama. It applies to watching the science show at the planetarium. However, the single ticket facility for each tourist attraction like for the zoo, science centre, lake garden and boating, botanical garden and cultural village would continue.
The Deputy Commissioner said a digital gallery would be set up in the planetarium this year.
He said Antrix Corporation Ltd., the commercial arm of ISRO, would organise an exhibition at the venue on the inaugural day. There would be demonstration of water rocket by ISRO.
J.R. Lobo, MLA, Mangaluru City South, said the planetarium has cost ₹36 crore.
He said the Pilikula Development Authority would be constituted this year as both Houses of the State legislature have approved the Bill to this effect.
Uncomfortable seats
Swami Vivekananda Planetarium has a 170-seating capacity. But the seats in the first three rows are the most uncomfortable for viewers, who do not get a full view of the 18 diameter dome during the science show.
During the preview on Saturday, reporters in the first three rows were not able to push the seats back to a comfortable level to get a full view of the dome. One had to either turn their head either to the right or left of the seat by taking their head out of the headrest, which is not flexible.
Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil S. said it could be corrected as seats could be tilted back to the comfortable level. Terming it a minor issue, he said it would be done before the planetarium is opened to the public.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mangaluru – February 24th, 2018
Organic cultivation links Bayaluseeme with coastal belt
A group of consumers in Mangaluru has been purchasing produce directly from farmers in north Karnataka
The organic cultivation of foodgrains has brought some farmers in north Karnataka closer to a consumer group in Mangaluru.
The Savaya Krushika Grahaka Balaga (SKGB), a group of 45 like-minded consumers of organic produce in Mangaluru, have been purchasing organic foodgrains from 10 farmers in Bayaluseeme since August 2017.
The SKGB has purchased about 2 tonnes (2,000 kg) of produce six times since then. Members of the consumer group include doctors, engineers, bank employees, home makers and advocates.
The SKGB has a WhatsApp group and collects indents on the quantity of produce required by each member every month. The produce is purchased directly from the farmers.
Once the produce arrives in Mangaluru, members of the group repack it as per the demand.
The cost of produce, transportation, repacking is calculated and the price per kilogram fixed. The produce is then taken home.
“We don’t stock any produce, as only the required quantity of produce is purchased,” Sameera Rao E. Kinya, secretary of SKGB, told The Hindu.
Explaining the benefits to both farmers and consumers, he said that the consumers got produce at a cheaper rate as compared to purchasing from organic outlets or shops. “We have found that organic produce need not be costly like in the open market,” he said.
As the farmers have been identified after thorough examination and field visits by some organic farmers from Dakshina Kannada, the members need not have any doubt about the quality of the produce.
On the other hand, the growers got a good price for their produce.
Mr. Rao said that the SKGB mainly purchases foodgrains because they are not grown in the coastal belt. The suppliers are marginal farmers with land holdings of up to 20 acres.
If more consumers form such mini groups and purchase produce directly, it would ensure a sustained market for organic farmers. It would also prompt more farmers to go the organic way, he said.
To create more avenues to their suppliers, the SKGB organised a two-day organic mela in Mangaluru from February 24 at Balam Bhat Hall.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangaluru / by Raviprasad Kamila / February 24th, 2018
Classical music festival in Hubballi
A two-day national Hindustani classical music festival, Hindustani Sangeet Sambhrama, is being organised in Hubballi on Sunday and Monday. Bharatiya Sangeet Vidyalay, Dharwad, Kshamata Seva Samsthe and Mangala Bharati, founded by MP Pralhad Joshi, are jointly organising the event where musical tributes will be paid to legendary musicians Sitar Ratna Rahimat Khan, Pt. Sawai Gandharva, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur and Gangubai Hangal.
Mr. Pralhad Joshi told presspersons here on Friday that the festival would begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday at Gokul Garden on Gokul Road in Hubballi.
Pt. Ganapati Bhat Hasanagi, Pt. Anand Bhate (Pune), Anuradha Kuber, Savni Shende, Vasanth Kambra (Sarod, Jodhpur), Pt. Kushal Das (Sitar, Kolkata), among others, would perform on the inaugural day, he said.
On Monday, the festival would begin at 5.30 p.m. and vocalist Pt. Venkateshkumar (Dharwad) and flautist Pt. Rajendra Prasanna (Delhi) would perform, he said.
Pt. Ravindra Yavagal, Udayaraj Karpur, Ravikiran Nakod, Sridhar Mandre, Raghavendra Nakod will accompany the artistes on the tabla and Sudhanshu Kulkarni, Sarang Kulkarni, Guruprasad Hegde will provide accompaniment on the harmonium.
Entry is free. Passes can be collected from Hotel Swati, Hotel Ganesh, Hotel Chalukya, Hotel Krishna Bhavan, Hotel Ananth Residency in Hubballi and from Hotel Brindavan, Hotel Hoysala, Bharatiya Sangeet Vidyalay, Hotel Maitri Palace in Dharwad.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Hubballi – February 24th, 2018