Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Cauvery ‘Teertodbhava’ at 11.43 p.m. on October 17

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Uncategorized

The famous ‘teertodbhava’, emerging of the sacred or holy water from the tiny pond called ‘Brahmakundike’ at Talacauvery, foothills of the mighty Brahmagiri Hills in Kodagu, will occur at 11.43 p.m. on October 17 under the ‘Mithuna Lagna’.

Kodagu Deputy Commissioner N.V. Prasad said this at the preliminary teertodbhava meeting at the Old Assembly Hall in Madikeri on Tuesday. The puja rituals concerning the teertodbhava would start from September 28 at both Bhagamandala and Talacauvery with the patreyalli akki hakuvudu (filling rice in the vessel) at 8.45 a.m. on September 28, Aajna Muhurta on October 5 and Akshaya Patra on October 13.

Mr. Prasad gave a call to officials of all departments to take steps to ensure a successful teertodbhava. He instructed the Public Works Department engineers to repair the Madikeri-Bhagamandala-Talacauvery road a week ahead of the Cauvery jatra that ensued after the teertodbhava.

He said the officials of the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) should make arrangements to avoid power disruptions. The Talacauvery-Bhagamandala Temple Committee should keep diesel generators as stand-by to meet emergencies since the occurrence was in the night, Mr. Prasad said.

Sampath Kumar, Manager of the Temple Committee, said four generators would be kept ready to meet emergencies.

Mr. Prasad said the KSRTC Depot Manager Lachme Gowda should take steps to provide buses to the devotees visiting the temples on the teertodbhava day and on other jatra days. Mr. Gowda said 30 buses had been deployed during the last year’s teertodabhava and jatra, and the same number would be available this year as well.

Superintendent of Police Manjunath Annigeri said the police would regulate the movement of vehicles to and from Talacauvery in view of the lack of space for parking at Talacauvery. The Public Works Department should take steps to look into the parking problems, Mr. Annigeri said.

Mr. Prasad told the Department of Health officials to equip themselves with medicines, ambulance, and related facilities to attend to health needs during the occasion.

Additional Deputy Commissioner K.M. Chandre Gowda said this was a preliminary meeting and the Legislative Assembly Speaker and legislators would attend the next meeting to oversee the preparations. Every government department should cooperate to make the teertodbhava celebrations a success, Mr. Gowda said.

Seven sub-committees, including reception, transport, cultural, and publicity, were formed on the occasion.

Mr. Gowda asked the Assistant Director of the Department of Kannada and Culture to organise cultural programmes during teertodbhava at Talacauvery. The Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy president Iymudiyanda Rani Machaiah, Madikeri Deputy Conservator of Forests K.S. Anand, and Senior Assistant Commissioner M.R. Ravi, were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / by Staff Correspondent / National> Karnataka / Mysore, September 21st, 2011

Kiss and (don’t) tell

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Do guys think it’s cool to brag about their sexual exploits, or is it in bad taste? Also, do they mind their girlfriends discussing intimate details of their relationship with her female friends? We find out what men think.

“I don’t kiss and tell, it just makes me uncomfortable,” says DJ Piyush Bajaj. “It’s something private that I never discuss even with my best buddies.”

But there is no dearth of guys who do, he adds. “I’ve heard lots of guys talking about who they’ve ‘done’ and how many they’ve done. Not only is it disrespectful to women, I find that most of these guys are really frustrated losers.”

As to women sharing details with their gal pals, Piyush says, “I’ve never heard a woman bragging about her conquests. So it’s a totally different kind of conversation.” However, actor Aditya Singh feels the rule applies to both men and women.

The Sandalwood star states, “I never talk about the intimate details of my relationship with anyone no matter how close a friend is. I respect and protect my woman’s privacy and I expect her to do the same for me because it’s something personal.”

As for men who like to discuss their sex lives with other guys, he says, “I think most of them just lie about it. Men have a complex when it comes to this topic and I feel many of their stories are just that — stories, to project a stud boy image.”

However, model Zulfi Syed feels, to each his own. “Yes, men do reveal details about their sex lives, and so do women. In fact, I think women talk about it more often. I don’t think it’s a problem,” says Zulfi, who admits that he is in a relationship.

IT professional Rohit K sums it up saying, “Many of us can’t resist dropping the occasional hint or comment about our nocturnal pursuits but as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, there’s no harm in it.”

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / by Tenzin Dechen /DC / Home> Channels> Lifestyle> Others / September 21st, 2011

Kannada version of ‘Rise and Fall of Coorg State’

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, , , , , , , , ,

“Coorg State: Udaya-Pathana”, Kannada version of journalist P.T. Bopanna’s book, “Rise and Fall of Coorg State”, dealing with the merger of the erstwhile Coorg (Kodagu) State with the then Mysore (Karnataka) State in 1956 has been released.

The English version of the book was published in 2009. B.K. Ganesh, a journalist, who also hails from Kodagu, has translated the book into Kannada, Mr. Bopanna said in a statement.

Commenting on the book published by the Press Club of Bangalore, Mr. Bopanna said when “Rise and Fall of the Coorg State” in English was first published, he was not sure how it would fare in the market.

There were reasons for his apprehension as he was publishing the book all by himself and no one had showed keenness in publishing it.

But to his surprise, the entire copies were sold out within two months of publication, mainly in Kodagu, he said. He felt the need for bringing out the Kannada edition of the book to reach out to the Kannada readers to make them understand the feelings of the people in Kodagu.

Even though Kannadigas were overjoyed by the integration of Kodagu with Karnataka, a large section of the people in Kodagu still felt that they would have been better off in the independent Coorg State, he said.

It was up to the policy-makers in Bangalore to try and remove the feeling of alienation by striving for the comprehensive development of Kodagu, he said.

Mr. Bopanna has authored four books, including “Discover Coorg”, the best-selling handbook on Kodagu which was translated into Kannada earlier. Mr. Bopanna also runs the website, www.coorgtourisminfo.com. The book is priced at Rs. 80 a copy.

source: http://www.theHindu.com / National>Karnataka> Mysore / September 17th, 2011 / by Staff Correspondent

How to carry off coloured denims with style

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Photographer: Rakesh Ravindran

Denims are a definite fashion must-haves! But it has come a long way from being the traditional blue. And we’re not even talking about them taking one step up and being available in blacks and whites; denims today are available in absolutely radiant colours including mustard, green, orange, red and pink. And while these coloured denims are only getting popular by the day, there are a few dos and don’ts that need to be kept in mind so that you don’t end up looking like a circus tent. DNA gets model Karan Medappa to demonstrate the look…

Karan is been modelling for nearly three years now and has been part of several advertisement campaigns as well. “The theme for this week’s shoot is pretty cool as I wear quite a bit of coloured denims myself. I loved the styling by Shaggy and it suited the overall theme perfectly. Overall, I had a great time shooting for the column,” says Karan.

Accessorise me

Too many accessories would spoil the show, and Karan was already aware of that. So he decided to go simple. He picked up a pair of trendy shoes that went with the entire look and strapped on a leather belt to complete the ensemble.

Check that outfit
In order to keep the look casual and yet stylish, Karan went with a pair of dark green denims and paired it with a black tee shirt so that it doesn’t look too dressy. In fact, a black T-shirt is apt when you’re wearing coloured denims.

Contour my face

The only thing a casual look requires is a clean face. So, Shaggy first cleansed his face to remove excess oil. He then used a concealer and followed it up with a foundation. After that, he contoured Karan’s face in order to highlight his features.

Style that hair
The theme requires a funky hairdo and that’s exactly what Shaggy gave the model. To start with, he ironed Karan’s hair and followed it up with spikes. And to set the look, he used hair spray and gel to make sure the style lasted the whole evening.

Pics: Rakesh Ravindran
Make-up and styling: Shaggy Khuman

 

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Home> Lifestyle / by Sharnaya C R / Monday, Sept 12th, 2011

Kodava Samaja hits a century

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , ,
In 1911, a few families came together and formed what was called the Coorg Association.
Pretty women: Kodava women dressed in their traditional attire at the annual day and felicitation programme organised by Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada Gowda Samaja at Palace Grounds on Sunday. DH PhotoThe association grew into being a strong force named the Kodava Samaja with more than ten thousand people from the Kodava community becoming a part of it and celebrated its hundred years of existence here on Sunday. 

A majority of the women wore sarees draped in the traditional Kodava way, while the younger generations wore jeans and t-shirts.

B A Muttanna, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) East, who spoke on the occasion said that the history of the community should not be oral alone.

Till now there is no library which can help the young generation learn about the Kodava community. The Samaj must set up a library in Bangalore where books on the history of the community must be made available.”

The Kodavas regard their female folks highly and that is a matter of pride.

M Boppaiah, member of the Samaj said even during marriages, Kodavas do not depend on any priests.

Instead, the older lady of the house performs the rituals. This is to symbolise that they are respected most.

With special Kodava meals served for lunch, people from the age of 10 to 80 were seen relishing what they miss in the urban environment.

“The food took me back to my village near Virajpet,” said P Muthanna, a retired government employee.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home>City / DHNS / September 11th, 2011

 

Gear up for soul sante this sunday

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, , , , , ,

Bangalore:

This Sunday escape into a world of arts, crafts, music, fashion and a whole lot more as Kingfisher Premium presents the Sunday Soul Sante, which is currently in its fourth edition. The Kingfisher Premium Sunday Soul Sante is a mid-day to mid-night festival bringing to the city an exciting, day long carnival with flea markets selling paintings, pottery and all kinds of quirky and creative merchandise. The Sante bazaar will take place at Tripura Vasini, Palace Grounds. The festival is organised to bring together and showcase diverse cultures under one roof.

Kingfisher Premium Sunday Soul Sante promises oodles of fun with friends and family. Adding to the excitement, Bangalore’s fashion guru Prasad Bidappa will be putting together a high on style fashion capsule, witness electrifying performances by bands like Bicycle Days and Psychophonic. The evening promises to end on a high note with the closing performance by DJ Ivan. Entry fee is Rs. 49/- for adults and free for senior citizens and children below twelve.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Express News Service, The New Indian Express / September 11th, 2011

Food, fusion and flavours

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion, , , , , , ,

Food to him is pleasure, understanding and expression. And when it comes to Indian cuisine, there are few things that set his imagination on fire like it.

British Australian food critic and TV presenter Matt Preston, says, “I have always found Indian food fascinating. I’ve been playing with various flavours for long and I’ve been eating it for even longer.”

MasterChef judge Matt Preston.

Preston, who was in India recently to promote the third season of MasterChef Australia with a live cook-off, says, “I love the sumptuous richness of Mughal dishes, and the sharpness of coastal cuisine from Goa and Kerala. I have become quite fond of Coorg style cooking too, ” says the MasterChef Australia judge, whose fascination with food began when he was hardly four.

Preston whipped up a watermelon, cucumber, mint and feta salad dressed with limejuice and raw nuts, perfectly poached egg on a toasted English muffin, served with roasted corn, avocado and smoked NY style mayo.

“I wanted to do brunch dishes that reflect Australian flavours without relying on meat. The mayo was something that I learned on our trip to film MasterChef Australia in New York, where I also purchased the smoking gun that I used to infuse the mayo with a hickory smoke flavour,” he adds.

Talking about emerging  food trends, he says, “Street food is going to be a hit. One would also see increased use of unique local, heritage or foraged ingredients.” And what makes a great dish?

“It’s always the three Ts — texture, taste, technique, topped up with lots of creativity,” he says. However, poor seasoning, cooking
without keeping the customer in mind, and chefs not tasting their own food enough are spoilers, he says.  “Indian food scores full marks for fusion, whether it’s the Goan vindaloo or the presence of originally Persian ingredients like apricots or almonds or Latin American ingredients like chilli and capsicum. When fusion works it is delicious. But when fusion fails, it’s like a failed Dr Frankenstein experiment! I’m not a fan of galangal in a Mexican salsa,” says Preston.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / by Shara Ashraf, Hindustan Times / New Delhi September 03rd, 2011 / Lifestyle > Food.

 

Back to the roots

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shoot in progress

Shooting in Progress

Fox History gave students a chance to present their culture on film.

Ayush Ganapathi, a Std VI student of Coorg Public School at Gonicoppa in Kodagu, has made it big. He is one of the five students picked by the Fox History channel in the country to depict the rich and unique culture of Kodagu district.

Many partcipants

More than one lakh students from over 60,000 schools across the country wrote an essay on the theme “My City and My History,” highlighting the cultural and historical aspects of their region.

Ganapathi wrote an essay on Puliyanda, a Kodava family’s origin and existence, following which he figured in the list of 12 students who were called to Delhi for final interview. The students were asked to speak and explain their themes and Ganapathi was one of the winning five.

Fox History had organised the event in association with the Indian National Trust for Art, Culture and Heritage (INTACH). The channel team visited COPS and a few select places in Kodagu for a shoot.

The traditions of Kodagu, mainly cultural, were shot in the COPS premises, apart from shoots in other locations such as Talacauvery, Nalknad Palace and the Ain Mane (ancestral houses) of the Puliyanda family. A mock show of Nari Mangala (wedding of a slain tiger), a practice that was in vogue in Kodagu in the past, was also shot on the occasion.

Fox History proposes to make a documentary for telecast some time later. The teachers and staff of the COPS, who interacted with the Puliyanda family, should be complimented for bringing laurels to COPS, says M.D. Nanjunda, senior Principal of the COPS.

source: www.thehindu.com / Life & Style > Kids / by Jeevan Chinnappa / March 21st, 2011

Mumbai likes to party wild!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, ,

Bizzare and quirky seem to have become the party crowds’ best loved words of late. And it is not just the theme parties that we are talking about. A series of parties held in the city during the recent past shed light on the trend of wild and mad parties that are fast catching up with the young, hip underground crowd.

The Mad Stupid party hosted last week was a perfect example of a whacky and wild riot. DJ Nikhil Chinappa who played at the event, feels that though these offbeat parties are far from being a phenomenon yet, they are fast picking up with people of all age groups. “People today want to be far more expressive when they go out,” he says.

Clearly, these crazy bashes are well scoring over the routine club culture and dance parties. People are seeking for relaxed fun. “You don’t need alcohol or drugs or go out in fancy cars and dress up in expensive suits and shoes just to go to a plush club and party,” says Nikhil. “All you need is your close set of friends and some good humour for the party to rock. And yeah, I don’t want to be philosophical here (sniggers).”

The party had a short theatrical performance by a ‘Joker’ from Batman, a Justin Beiber, and Spiderman — all three churning out rib tickling drama on stage.

The bootleggers party held in the city last night was again a one of its kind bash. Organised by Chondamma Cariappa, an active blogger, the party is meant to bring people together on an unusually common ground — the fetish for boots. Cariappa started her blog called ‘Sole sisters’ 11 months back and has women from all across the world contributing to it by sending in pictures of their shoes and discussing the price ranges and shops.

“I recently had a girl from Mumbai posting a photo of her boots, to which another woman reacted saying, ‘Where in Mumbai do you get to wear these pretty boots?’ And that is when I decided to arrange this party where people can flaunt their boots,” says Cariappa.

The Jungle theme party (held at Bonobo a couple of weeks back) too became quite a rage. With people dressed up as cheetahs and monkeys, this was a wild bash, literally!

source: http://www.dnaindia.com/ by Shreya Badola / Home> Lifestyle> Report / Place Mumbai, Agency DNA / Thursday Aug 25th, 2011

 

Dance workshops to be held in September

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's, , , , ,

New York , USA:

Several New York City dancers are headed upstate to share their knowledge.

Dance workshops will be held on Sept. 9 and 10 at Adirondack Repertory Dance Theatre at 126 Glen St.

On Friday, Lisa Higley and Wilson LeBron from New York City will teach a hip-hop class from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Heather Rigg, an instructor at Broadway Dance center in Manhattan, will teach a jazz class.

Then, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Pavan Thimmaiah, the founder of PMT House of Dance in New York City and an instructor at Alvin Ailey, will teach a hip-hop/funk class that infuses break dancing.

A request to attend should be sent via email at info@glensfallsardt.com

The cost for the workshop is $50, and checks should be sent to 126 Glen St. (P.O. Box 2405) in Glens Falls. Money must be received by Sept. 1, or you can register at the studio from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 3.

source: http://www.poststar.com / Glen Falls Post Star / Home> Lifestyles/  by Staff Report / Wednesday Aug 16th, 2011