Monthly Archives: March 2013

Float festival lights up Cuddalore port

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The backwaters and the sky above at the Cuddalore port were lit up by serial lights and fireworks as fishermen performed ‘Theppotsavam’ in a grand manner as part of Masi Magam festivities on Monday night.

Residents of at least six fishing villages, including Sonankuppam and Akkaraigori, gathered in large numbers to witness the event.

Fishermen tied up trawlers to serve as floats for carrying processional deities in the backwaters. Two floats illuminated with colourful serial lights set on bamboo frames in the form of the processional deities – Sri Venkatesa Perumal from Sonankuppam and Goddess Marriamman from Akkaraigori – stood 110 ft high and 40 ft wide each.

Both the floats proceeded from opposite directions and met at the midpoint of the backwaters. Non-stop fireworks for about two hours were a delight to spectators.

Kaviarasan of Sonankuppam said that at in this annual event, usually six processional deities from as many places of worship would participate in the Theppotsavam.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> National / by Special Correspondent / Cuddalore, February 27th, 2013

Tamil Nadu gets 14 new trains

Business & Economy

BansalCF01mar2013

         Pawan Kumar Bansal.

Chennai:

 For Tamil Nadu, Union rai­lway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s maiden bu­dget was just old wine in new bottle. But for the 14 new trains announced in the budget, from new tra­ins to new rail routes, the state stands to lose on many fronts.

For instance, the two-decade old Avadi- Gu­du­va­nchery rail route via Sr­iperumbudur and Or­gadam has reappeared as a “new project” proposed to be taken up in this fiscal. Also, the revival of old Sathy-Beng­aluru rail route leaves little to che­er about, for the controversial projects inters­e­c­ting the elephant corridor in the western ghats, faces stiff resistance from environmentalists.

Long-pending demands like new rail routes on Chennai-Sriperumbudur stretch via Guindy and Poona­mallee, Kach­eep­u­r­am-Katpadi stretch via Tiruvannamalai, Ku­mba­k­o­nam-Vridachalam str­e­­tch via Andimadam and Athipattu-Ennore seapo­rt stretch have not been mentioned even. Elect­rifi­cation on Erode-Tir­uchy via Karur, Karur-Din­dugul has also been ign­ored. Bansal has also not obliged the public de­mand for launc­hing ov­ernight Coimb­atore-Ba­ngalore train and inc­re­asing Chennai-Tirune­lv­eli connectivity.

Even SRMU general secretary N. Kanniah did not mind describing as ‘questionable’ the launch of the 14 new tra­ins, as at le­ast four of the 11 trains announced in the earlier budget, ex­cluding the Che­­n­nai-Ba­ng­alore double-decker put on trial last week, ha­ve not been laun­c­hed yet. The minister’s pr­­omises on the safety fr­ont sounded em­pty, sa­ys S. Moha­nram, me­mber of zonal rail us­ers consultative panel.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC, K. Karthikeyan / February 27th, 2013