Charm of the snake boat race in Kerala, known as ‘God’s own Country’

The backwaters of Kerala is the perfect locale to organize an event like the snake boat race. It dates back to several centuries. Only one boat can participate from one village. Obviously, it becomes a matter of pride for the whole village. To ensure success, the village council selects some of the finest and the most skilled rowers for their entry. The length of the boats are typically 100 to 140 feet in length and large enough to accommodate around 64 to 128 paddlers. The rear portion of the boat is about 20 ft in height, while the front has a long taper. Its shape resembles a snake, hence the name of ‘snake boat.’ The event is organized during Onam, the harvesting festival that lasts for several days during autumn. Snake boat race: Kerala’s annual nudge with a centuries-old tradition. The history of the race dates back to the 13th century. It started off by a race between two rival kingdoms.

A famous carpenter of the day developed the unique design of the boat and technical methods used to make the boats are several centuries old. The Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race in Kerala is one of the oldest and the premier-most event held in August-September. It began in 1952 in honor of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. Participants and attendees come from across the country and is now a major cultural and sports event. The venue is Punnamada Lake in Alleppey. Each team spends huge sums of money to prepare for the race. These go towards rigorous training of the participants apart from designing, and maintaining the boats. For these sporting men, it is a centuries-old tradition of their land that has developed into an emotion. It is not just winning the competition, but also about pride and honor. To them each race boat is like a deity.

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Travel by boat in the backwaters of Kochi is normal but there are many risks associated with such travel because many of the vessels operating in the region have thrown caution to the winds in terms of meeting crucial requirements.
The Transport Minister has pointed out that out of the 51 vessels used for operating ferry services in the State, 14 were wooden boats that were over 25 years old, and most of the remaining ones were over 15 years old. This was refuted by the Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) authorities. They have clarified that none of the boats operated by the department in Kochi were that old. They have added that all the boats meet the safety standards stipulated by the State government and carry life-saving gear and modern communication equipment.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 4 March 2017.

On Marine Drive, there are private boats that take tourists out into the backwaters, some time in blatant violation of safety norms. In spite of strict warnings, boats that should not carry guests on the upper deck, do so by adding a temporary deck. Some of the boats have life jackets more than a decade old sourced from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department under the tsunami relief program.
As per official estimates, close to 400 tourist boats are operated in the Vembanad lake and surrounding water bodies.


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Mumbai has plans on the anvil to operate houseboats in the creeks on Mumbai coast in an effort to woo tourists. It could start between the waters of Marve-Manori and Gorai. The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) has received 11 proposals from coastal districts to set up houseboats.
It will be on the lines of what Kerala has done - houseboats will be promoted in the backwaters of Maharashtra too. They already operate at Tarkarli in Sindhudurg district and have become a big hit with tourists.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 28 February 2017.

The proposed houseboat can accommodate two families at a time and MMB would levy a 10% charge on what the operator will charge for each tourist. Besides, there will be a security deposit. The scheme will be implemented in an environmental friendly way and tourists will be taken through the creeks and shown the mangroves.
MMB also has plans to launch water sports facilities at Juhu, Versova, Aksa, Marve, Manori, Gorai, Ghodbunder, Bhayandar and Vasai. The facilities will include kayaking, banana rides, water scooters and speed boats.


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National Folk Festival of Kerala to showcase dances from 10 states

Folk artists from 10 states will converge on Kerala on the occasion of the National Folk Festival of Kerala which will be held for three days starting from 24 February. The states would include Rajasthan, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir.
There will be three venues and over 500 artists who will participate to showcase the centuries-old folklore culture and tradition of the country through different art forms.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 19 February 2017.

This is the first time such a festival is being held in the state. The NFFK 2017 is organized by the state Youth Welfare Board, in association with Bharat Bhavan and the Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan - these are the state-run cultural centers. The event will provide an opportunity to display the rich legacy of the country's folklore tradition before the art and culture buffs.
Kashmir - a group of 20 artists will showcase over 10 dance and music programs.

Bengal - noted folk music band 'Sahajiya' would reader Bengal's legacy of the folk arts

Punjab - would perform traditional dances like Bhangra, Giddha and Jago

Rajasthan - would showcase 'Kalbelia', the famed folk dance mainly performed by tribes of the same name. The performances of artists from Jaisalmer would provide the audience to get an idea about the traditional dress and lifestyle of the place

Kerala - would showcase the state's traditional art forms including 'Theyyam'


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In order to boost revenue, Karnataka to market Neera as a non-alcoholic nutritious drink

Karnataka plans to market 'Neera" as a non-alcoholic nutritious drink. Neera is the sweet sap harvested from coconut spathe and Karnataka wants to market this to augment its financial resources in the backdrop of a slowdown triggered by demonetization.
The state government has figured out that even if one per cent of neera is extracted from coconut trees spread over 4.97 lakh hectares in the state it could result in an income of Rs 4,500 crore.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 8 January 2017.

There were a few bottlenecks and, after removing these, by introducing amendments to the excise rules, the government is waiting for the governor's assent to the proposed legislation. Once it arrives, it would allow Neera to be marketed as a natural nutritional drink with rejuvenation capabilities.
Neera is, at present, being tapped and marketed as a natural drink by Kerala which has the largest coconut growing area in the country. It may be noted that Neera can be used as an ingredient in manufacturing jaggery, sugar, honey, chocolate, cake and cookies apart from being sold as a natural drink. It is also reported to be good for treating urinary problems and diabetes.


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Kerala has 427 elephants without statutory ownership certificates

Kerala has a total of 427 elephants without the statutory ownership certificates. These are in the custody of various individuals and trusts associated with places of worship. This has been confirmed by the Kerala forest department in its reply to the NGO, heritage animal task force.
As per information, 427 persons had applied for ownership certificate for the elephants which they had been keeping without the required documents. The breakup of these applicants 320 are Hindus, 44 are Muslims and 63 Christians.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 4 December 2016.

The breakup of these elephants are 349 male, 74 female and four Makhanas (male elephants without tusks by birth). In addition there are 29 elephants with the Kerala forest department and these are housed at Kottur, Karulayi, Kodanad and Konni elephant camps, without statutory ownership certificates.
As to the devaswom boards - Guruvayur Devaswom has 52 elephants, of which 19 have no ownership certificates. The Travancore Devaswom Board has 32 elephants and none of them have any ownership certificate. Cochin Devaswom Board has 11 elephants, all without certificates while Malabar Devaswom Board has five elephants, two of which have no ownership certificates.
Moreover, the two elephants of Padmanabhaswamy temple - Darshini and Sudarshini also do not have ownership certificates.


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Kerala had imposed a 'fat tax' of 14.5% on certain eatables to curb consumption of junk food. The dosa, one of south India’s beloved snacks, has now been exempted from this proposed ‘fat tax,’ but it will remain for fast foods like pizzas, burgers etcetera.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 11 November 2016.

It may be recalled that the decision to impose a 14.5% ‘fat tax’ had been made by the state’s finance minister in July. It was the first time any government in the country has decided to impose such a fat tax in a bid to discourage consumption of food that may lead to obesity. Of course, countries like Denmark had introduced such moves, but it was withdrawn within a year due to public backlash.
Along with the 'fat tax', a 5% tax was also proposed on coconut oil with its repercussions likely to be severe in the state.
However, it has now been clarified that the 'fat tax' will be imposed only on products like burgers, tacos, pasta, doughnuts and patties, leaving out dosas, a most common breakfast dish in the state. The exemption has been extended to products made by prisoners as well because many prisons in Kerala have received praise for churning out good quality food products through prisoners who get paid through the program as well.
Incidentally, the newly installed LDF government in the state has complained that the coffers are largely empty because of massive corruption and mismanagement of funds in the earlier Congress-led regime and the imposition of the fat tax was an attempt to bolster finances of the state.


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Gold coin on offer to Kerala civic authorities who cull maximum number of stray dogs

The alumni association of a prominent college has announced an incentive to eliminate the menace of stray dogs in Kerala. The association would give gold coins to the civic authorities which killed the maximum number of stray dogs till December 10 in Kerala because four persons have lost their lives and over 700 have been injured in canine attacks in the last four months.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 31 October 2016.

As per official government figures, 701 people, including 175 children, were injured in stray dog attacks in the last four months across the State and, in the current year, 53,000 people have taken treatment for dog bites in government medical college hospitals alone. Obviously, this is a matter of concern.
Therefore, office-bearers of the Old Students Welfare Association of the Pala-based (Kottayam) St. Thomas College has indicated an incentive in the form of a “gift” of gold coin that would be given to the heads of panchayats and municipalities across the State where most stray dogs were killed.
The outfit had recently provided air guns at subsidised rates to deal with violent dogs and, before that, a State-based industrialist had offered cash incentives were for culling dogs.
The gold coins would be bought with contributions from the representatives of the 1,200 member-association and the weight of the coins would be decided according to the total amount collected. The civic authorities, who apply for the gold coins, should submit day-to-day figures of the culled dogs.


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Kerala introduces a 'fat tax' of 14.5% on fast foods like burgers and pizzas

Kerala has set a new end in generation of revenue - the state has pioneered the fat tax in the country by introducing a 14.5 per cent levy on burgers, pizzas and similar food in branded restaurants. This concept is quite popular in some western countries as it tries to make food or beverages linked to obesity costlier in order to discourage their consumption.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 9 July 2016.

This fat tax has been levied by the new Left government in Kerala through its annual budget. A tax of 14.5 per cent is being levied on food items like burger, pizza, tacos, donuts, sandwich, burger-patty, pasta, bread fillings and others sold by branded restaurants as fat tax.

This is the first time in India that any state has imposed such a tax. Kerala hopes to earn around Rs 10 crore a year from the fat tax which is like a drop in the ocean because liquor had made the state exchequer richer by Rs 8,100 crore in 2015-16. Outlets like KFC and Domino's have mushroomed in the state and the government wants to tap the hidden potentials for earning more revenue.


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At least 102 dead in massive fire from fireworks in Puttingal Devi temple in Kerala

It was a major tragedy when a fire broke out from fireworks ceremony in the Paravur Puttingal Devi temple and left at least 102 dead with another 350 injured. The incident happened at around 3:30 a.m on Sunday. The fireworks ceremony was being held as part of the annual festival of the temple, near Kollam.
This has been reported in thehindu.com dated 10 April 2016.

Nearly 100 victims have been admitted to the district hospital in Kollam and in the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital apart from various private hospitals in Kollam. Many of the injured died before they could reach a hospital. Initial reports suggest that the explosion happened when the storehouse of the fireworks materials caught fire and, in the ensuing explosion, the office building of the Travancore Devaswom Board situated near the storehouse was blown off. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala are visiting the scene. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also going to Kerala with a team of 15 specialists to help with the treatment of those injured in the massive fire at the Puttingal temple in Kollam early this morning. Moreover, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force have dispatched six helicopters and one Dornier aircraft while Union health Minister JP Nadda is also headed for the site of the tragedy. The Prime Minister has announced Rs. 2 lakh each as compensation to the next of the kin of the dead in Kollam temple fire and Rs. 50,000 to those injured.


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There are 289 illegally captive elephants in Kerala and PETA has sent a legal notice to Kerala government seeking withdrawal of its order on illegally captive elephants which allows the state's Chief Wildlife Warden to give ownership certificates to owners of these illegally captive elephants.
This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 29 March 2016.

PETA feels the orders of the government contradicts the spirit of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which prohibits illegal capture, trade and custody of wild animals such as elephants, and the purpose of the August 18, 2015 interim order of the Supreme Court. PETA feels that the February 26 order goes in favor of illegal owners of elephants. Hence, the state government must withdraw it and also the ownership certificates issued as per the order.
Moreover, PETA wants that the state should penalize owners of the 289 elephants in Kerala who do not have valid ownership certificate.
As per PETA, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, had allowed the declaration of captive elephants either within 30 days of its enactment or during the period of an amnesty scheme notified by the central government in 2003. This amnesty scheme was offered through Declaration of Wildlife Stock Rules, 2003, which required wildlife articles to be declared within 180 days from the date of notification of the Rules (ie, 18 April to 18 October 2003).
The Kerala government had on February 3, 2012 asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change for an extension of the amnesty period but the request was denied. By giving amnesty to owners of ill-gotten elephants, Kerala is supporting the cruel and illegal elephant trade and making a mockery of the Wildlife Protection Act. Incidentally, capturing an elephant is prohibited under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is believed that many of the captive elephants have been captured illegally from the wild, separated from their mothers as babies,beaten into submission and transported to Kerala for use as tourist attractions and in temples.


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Jatayu, the mythical bird of Ramayana, to woo tourists to Kerala

Kerala is already branded as 'God's own country' and offers medical tourism to tourists who visit it. The state is now getting an additional attraction in the form of Jatayu, the mythical bird mentioned in the Ramayana, that fight with Ravana as he was kidnapping Sita. The bird is set to come alive next year through the Jatayu Nature Park in Thiruvananthapuram.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 17 December 2015.

Kerala will throw open the first phase of the Jatayu Nature Park in January 2016 - it has been listed as one of its ambitious tourism projects and will be coming up in Kollam district. It has been allocated Rs 100 crore.
The Jatayu Nature Park is spread over 65 acres in Chadayamangalam and has natural features like small mountains, valleys, cliffs and rock-formations. It is aimed to attract tourists who have interests in mythological, adventure and wellness tourism.
The main attraction, however, is a giant sculpture of the mythical bird Jatayu from which the park gets its name - as per the Hindu epic Ramayana, Jatayu had tried to rescue Sita after she was abducted by Raavan and, in the opinion of locals, the bird fell here after it was struck down by Raavan.
The bird sculpture measures 200 ft x 150 ft x 70 ft and sits on top of a hill it is believed to be the biggest sculpture of a bird in the world. Inside it, it will house a 6D theatre and an audio-visual-based digital museum that will take visitors on a journey of Ramayana.

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Kerala girl excited about the one-way ticket to Mars from Mars One project

#mars #kerala #manonmars #MarsOne 19-year-old Kerala girl Shradha Prasad from Palakkad has cleared the initial hurdles to get a one-way ticket to the Red Planet Mars through the Mars One project of Netherlands – she is the only candidate from India as reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 17 February 2015.
She is, naturally, upbeat about clearing the fourth round of the astronaut selection process. This has been confirmed by Mars One authorities.
She is the only child of her parents and is a student of mechanical engineering student of Coimbatore's Amrita University.
Incidentally, there are three other Indians who have been selected but two of them are based in the US and the third one is from Dubai.
It will now depend on how she prepares for the rigorous tests before getting selected in the elite 24-member crew that will be selected to go to Mars.
There we a total of 202,586 applicants, and 100 of them have qualified for the third round – 24 of them will make it to the Mars-One for the mission.
Mars-One is a non-profit organization of Bas Lansdorp and has its base in the Netherlands. Its objective is to set up a permanent human settlement on Mars by offering a one-way trip to those selected. Under the current plan, crews of four will depart every two years beginning 2024 and the first of these flights is expected to lift-off in 2018.