A 52 ft. statue of Lord Shiva was installed on the grounds of Sri Rajarajeswari temple in Karnangeri near Madikeri in Kodagu.
Mysuru:
A 52 ft. statue of Lord Shiva was installed on the grounds of Sri Rajarajeswari temple in Karnangeri near Madikeri in Kodagu, here on Friday. As many as 108 Shivalingas brought from Kaashi were also installed around the statue which Madikeri artist, Ravi, took a decade to sculpt.
The 52 ft Shiva statue at Sri Rajarajeswari temple at Karnangeri village near Madikeri (Photo: DC)
The temple, 3 km from Madikeri, attracts thousands of devotees from around the state and country every day ,who arrive here to worship goddess Mangaladevi of Mangaluru. The crowds swell on Tuesdays, Fridays, Mondays and Saturdays, when the goddess is said to fill the temple priest with her aura and resolve the problems of devotees during a holy darshan. A Jaathra Mahothsava of the goddess is held at the temple every first Tuesday of May.
It was in the early 1960s that late Sannaiah Swamy of Thombaththu Mane near Haakathur established the temple at Karnangeri after the goddess reportedly appeared in a dream of his mother-in-law Manjamma. It is said the goddess helped Sannaiah’s ailing father-in-law, Kariappa as well. The statue was installed by Dharmasthala Dharmadhikaari, Sri Veerendra Hegde.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / by Shilpa P, Deccan Chronicle / March 05th, 2016
The winner, Paras Bindra, will take part in the World Barista Championship, which will be held in Dublin this year
Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint
Bengaluru:
If you are a coffee aficionado and haven’t tasted it yet, order the Kaapi Nirvana the next time you walk into a Café Coffee Day outlet. The iced espresso with its coconut undertones, laced with shards of dark chocolate and topped with whorls of light-as-air whipped cream is delightful. And I’m not the only one who thinks so: it won the silver medal at the 2002 World Barista Championship in Oslo.
Vikram Khurana, who was working with Café Coffee Day when he won the medal nearly 15 years ago and was a judge at the 2016 National Barista Championship held in Bengaluru on 25-27 February, says that the coffee culture in India has evolved considerably since then.
“We are the sixth largest producer of coffee, but only one-third of what we produce gets consumed here. However, recently I have noticed there are a lot more cafes opening up in tier 2 and 3 cities here,” he says, “It is a good thing—coffee helps people get more connected.”
The energetic wave of applause that greets 20-year-old Nahid Khan, one of the finalists at the competition, seems to confirm it. With a shy smile, she acknowledges the applause and says, “The people who grow and pick coffee are women, but those who make coffee at baristas are almost always men. This is for all the women behind coffee in India. I wanted to prove that a woman could make coffee well too,” she says, proceeding to do exactly that.
Out of 100% finely roasted Arabica beans, she prepares three sorts of coffee—an espresso, a milk-based beverage and a signature special coffee blend—which need to be made in 15 minutes without waste or spillage and served to the judges. Incidentally, there are eight of the judges around: four to focus solely on the tasting, while the other four hover around the contestant, grading the efficiency with which he/she makes the coffee. Obviously, coffee is taken very seriously here.
“The winner of this championship will attend the World Barista Championship, which will be held at Dublin, Ireland, this year,” says Aarti Dewan Gupta of the Coffee Board of India, which is organizing the national competition. “We hope to streamline the coffee industry and attract more girls and boys to it.”
Young talent is certainly not in short supply here. Take Sachin Krupakar, another finalist, whose signature drink had people in the audience clambering on to the stage to taste, “It has khus syrup, cheesecake with cream and coffee in three distinct layers,” he laughs, pointing out that the vermillion, white and green colour of the drink also bore a patriotic message.
“It is a great event that showcases the coffee industry in India,” says one of the judges, Sunil Pinto, who works with Tata Coffee, “It is a happening industry today. After all, coffee shops aren’t so much about the coffee as the experience.”
And it certainly has been a fantastic experience, agrees this year’s winner Paras Bindra, whose signature concoction of reduced orange juice, espresso and cinnamon will take him to Dublin this year.
“I have already started thinking about the flavours that I will take abroad. What works on an Indian palate may not necessarily work on a western one,” says the 30-year-old.
And we certainly hope he nails it.
As Khurana says, “No coffee-producing nation has ever produced a champion yet. I hope India will be the first.”
source: http://www.livemint.com / Live Mint / Home> Consumer / by Preeti Zachariah / Wednesday – March 02nd, 2016
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, IDL Foundation, a non-profit organization, is all set to organize a unique and innovative programme – IDL Blind Pinkathon – for the benefit of blind and visually-challenged on March 6 at NGO Hall, Cubbon Park.
Speaking with Iamin, Dr P K Paul, founder and executive trustee of IDL Foundation, said that the NGO plans to organise similar programmes at other cities for the benefit of blind and visually-challenged people. “Our objective is to provide a platform to the special people to showcase their talent and provide opportunities to celebrate womanhood in a special and unique way by organising a programme for interaction among abled, differently abled and celebrities which will be a life time memory for the participants,’’ Dr Paul said.
Participation is open to all on the first come first basis, provided they possess a Medalor Blind Certificate.
Sandalwood actress Harshika Poonacha, the brand ambassador of this project, had launched the IDL Blind Pinkathon logo in the presence of blind and visually-challenged couples on Valentine’s Day at Cubbon Park recently. “I am inspired to see the love and affection I received from the special people. I appeal general public to come forward to lend a helping hand to blind and visually-challenged people to cross roads, to board BMTC buses, read books, and write exams,’’ Harshika Poonacha said.
According to Dr Paul, there are loads of goodies awaiting special people. “We have made arrangements to give Rs500 each as honorarium for 500 participating blind and visually-challenged women, girl students and children. Each participant will get a designer ladies bag and five gifts such as talcum powder, oil, shampoo, soap, cream and moisturizer as a token of appreciation of participating and memorabilia,’’ he said.
Those who want to participate in the programme may contact at 880268787/7813018787/7813028787.
When: Sunday, March 6.
Where: NGO Hall, Cubbon Park, Bangalore.
source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Locality> Bangalore Central / by Y M Reddy / Tuesday – March 01st, 2016
Flight trials conducted at facility in Kerala, 58 km from Virajpet.
Flight trials were undertaken on Monday at the newly constructed international near here.
Though the facility is not in the district and is part of the neighbouring state of Kerala, it is expected to provide an impetus to the economic development of the district, especially in the tourism sector.
The airport has come up at Mattanur (Kannur district), just 58 km from here. Though the official inauguration is slated for a later date, preparations for the trial run were being made for the past one month. Work on the runway was undertaken, overcoming many hurdles.
The construction of 2,400-metre of the proposed 3,050-metre runway has been completed in the first phase. Monday’s trial run was conducted on 1,500 metres of the runway.
Commercial operations are likely to begin in September this year, if all goes well, sources in the government and the Kannur International Airport Authority said.
The opening of the airport will put pressure on the Virajpet-Kannur interstate-highway that passes through Virajpet town, the Virajpet-Hunsur highway and the Virajpet-Madikeri highway. But work on upgrading and expanding these stretches is still in the initial stages.
The construction of the airport is expected to cost a total of Rs 1,892 crore and the project was approved when C M Ibrahim, who hails from the State, was the union minister for civil aviation in the Deve Gowda government at the Centre. At present, the Mandakalli airport in Mysuru is the nearest to the district (100 km from Virajpet). The other nearby airports are the Mangaluru airport (160 km from Virajpet) and the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru (250 km from Virajpet).
The new airport at Mattanur is also expected to help exports of the commercial crops grown in the district. It will also be useful for those pursuing studies and seeking employment abroad, besides giving a boost to cultural exchanges with foreign countries. The real estate sector in the district is likely to witness a boom too.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com /Deccan Herald / Home> State / Virajpet(Kodagu) / DHNS – March 01st, 2016
Team Coorg celebrate with the trophy. Photo – Supplied
Muscat :
Team Coorg Oman clinched the top honours at the Gulf Hockey Fiesta for Starcare Cup organised by United Thalessery Sports Club (UTSC) in association with Oman Hockey Association (OHA) at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Friday.
In an exciting final of the Asian Hockey Federation-recognised event, Team Coorg defeated Qatar Wanderers 4-1. The eventual champions scored two quick goals through Kavan and Pradhan Somanna to take 2-0 lead just five minutes into the match.
Pradhan struck his second and team’s third goal in the 14th minute and a minute later Omani player Ali Salim made it 4-0.
Qatar Wanderers managed to pull one back in the 16th minute.
Earlier in the semifinals, Qatar Wanderers edged King Khan Hockey Club of Dubai for a 1-0 win while Team Coorg defeated UTSC 4-2.
A total 12 teams, including seven from outside Oman, took part in the event, which was officially inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Indramani Pandey by hitting the ball to PR. Sreejesh, the Indian hockey team vice-captain and goalkeeper, who flew in from India to preside over the event as the chief guest.
Later, the prize-distribution ceremony was graced by OHA’s former chief Dawood Al Raisi, present general secretary Mohammed Redha Taqi Al Lawati, popular hockey personality SAS Naqvi, Starcare Hospital vice-chairman C.M. Najeeb, CEO Dr Mohammed Naseem, ISD President Abdul Rahim, Indian School Muladha Principal SI Sheriff, Mohammed Riaz LLC Chairman Mohammed Riaz, Aziz of Al Jadeed Exchange, Oman hockey veterans Mohammed Shambeh Al Raisi and Abdulrahman.
The best goalkeeper award went to Ahmad Alam, a former Pakistan goalkeeper and Olympian. Best defender award was claimed by Ali Salim of Team Coorg. Future player award went to Geroge Extel of Bahrain Hungry Humoours while Juniad of Qatar Wanderers was adjusted the man of the tournament award.
During the ceremony, a raffle draw was conducted which saw several gifts presented includng two gold coins of eight grammes each, return air ticket to Sharjah and two return tickets to Mumbai.
Starcare Hospital was the main sponsor for the event and the other sponsors were Mohammed Riaz LLC, Al Jadeed Exchange, Majan Distrubters, Foodlands Restaurant, Lynx, FAP, Al Nahla Solutions, Times of Oman and Gulf Madhyamam.
source: http://www.timesofoman.com / Times of Oman / Home> Sports> Hockey / by Times News Service / February 28th, 2016
Star Indian doubles player hopes to get facility with four clay courts running by April
Dubai:
Indian doubles ace Rohan Bopanna will launch his tennis academy in Bengaluru next month.
35-year-old, who has struck a successful partnership with Romanian Florin Mergea on the ATP World Tour said that the focus of his academy will be on tapping talent in the 4 to 14 years age-group.
The academy that will be located on the outskirts of the country’s IT capital, is a personal initiative from the Indian Davis Cup player.
“I want to do this my way. I want the primary focus to be on fitness because that’s the most important factor in our sport today, also if the child then doesn’t want to play tennis, he or she can play another sport because they will already have the necessary early training,” Bopanna told Gulf News after he and Mergea had lost in the doubles to the veteran pairing of Daniel Nestor and Radek Stepanek.
Bopanna disclosed that he is teaming up with former South African professional Piet Norval and fitness trainer Yash Pandey in his new venture.
“Piet has done a fantastic job with kids back home in South Africa,” Bopanna said.
“He will visit the facility once every month for a week. I want to focus on juniors to begin with and then see if I want to expand in the future. Right now it’s all about a wholesome exposure to children who want to play the sport. I’m only having clay courts now because it’s easier on the body, more so when kids are learning the sport,” the 35-year-old added.
Bopanna will launch the academy with just four courts late next month before going into business probably a month later. “I’ve spoken to a lot of schools and the response so far has been very good. The idea is to get as many kids as possible playing the sport. The more the numbers, the greater our chances for success,” he said.
Bopanna and Mergea, ranked 8 and 12 individually, and placed 14 as a team, haven’t had a great start to the new season. Last year, the pair surprised a few when they sailed into the doubles final at the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals held at the O2 Arena. After Dubai they are scheduled to play Indian Wells and Miami before they hit the European trail for the clay court stretch.
source: http://www.gulfnews.com / Gulf News / Home> Sport> Tennis / by Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter / February 27th, 2016
Deputy Commissioner Meer Anees Ahmmed said a report on the construction of a private bus stand, submitted by a private institute, has been submitted to the Transport Department for verification and to elicit opinion on the report.
Chairing a meeting of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) here on Wednesday, he said the department has been asked to prepare a comprehensive traffic plan for the city. Action will be taken after obtaining opinion from the department. “It will be impossible to build the private bus stand at RMC Yard on Mysuru Road. The RMC land should be used for the purpose it is meant for,” he remarked.
Raising the issue, Private Bus Owners’ Association President Hosur Ramesh Joyappa said the shifting of the private bus shelter is being discussed from the last several years. It has not seen any progress so far. It will be better to identify land on Mysuru Road for the construction of the bus shelter, he added.
Autorickshaw Drivers’ Association President Medappa said autorickshaws have been permitted to travel 10-km from the district headquarters. However, the residents of remote villages which do not have transport facilities, depend on autorickshaws for transport. Hence, the permission for the travel from headquarters should be be increased to 20-km, he urged.
Reacting to it, the DC said permission will be granted only after verifying the areas where permission needs to be given and it will be known in the next RTA meeting.
The private bus owners said they are facing a lot of inconvenience due to lack of a bus shelter for private vehicles in Kushalnagar. At least, two private buses should be allowed to park near the KSRTC Bus Stand. Objecting to it, the KSRTC officials said private buses should not be allowed to be parked within 100-metre radius of the bus stand. The DC said he will inspect the site before taking a decision.
Bus service sought Vanachalu residents said people, labourers and students are facing difficulty without any proper bus services to the village. A KSRTC bus should be operated on the stretch. The meeting agreed to start a bus service to Vachanalu.
The KSRTC officials said private buses cannot operate on Kushalnagar and Guddehosur State Highway. The private buses can operate via Siddapura and Harangi route, they added.
Privte Bus Owners’ Association Secretary Nanda Poonaccha said the police fail to receive complaints in the police station.
Reacting to it, the DC said that complaints can be filed online or to the SP’s office.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Madikeri – DHNS / February 25th, 2016
Konkani Christian Association, Mysuru and All India Konkani Writers Organisation (AIKWO), Mangaluru, have organised the All India Konkani Liter- ature Festival on Feb. 28 from 10 am to 4.30 pm at the Konkan Bhavan in Vijayanagar here.
The Lit Fest will be inaugurated by Vincent Crasto, industrialist and President of Konkani Christian Association.
An interaction with senior Konkani litterateur Rev. Fr. V.J. Menezes by litterateur and poet Valli Vagga will be held followed by a symposium on ‘The Old Konkani Bharatha’ by Dr. Rocky V. Miranda. Dr. Edward Nazareth, General Secretary of All India Konkani Writers Organisation, Mangaluru, will preside.
An All India Poets meet will also be held in which poets from Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru and Mumbai will participate. Valli Quadras of Mumbai will preside.
A comedy short play titled ‘Guliyo’ written by Richie John Pais, Mangaluru and directed by George William D’Souza, Mysuru, will be staged followed by cultural programmes in Konkani by the Association members.
A mass in Konkani will be held before the commencement of the literature festival.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / February 25th, 2016
This Railway Budget will surely bring smiles on the faces of residents of Mysuru and Kodagu. Reason: the much-awaited 85-km railway line project between Mysuru and Kushalnagar will finally take off with the Railway Ministry giving its green signal in the budget.
Speaking to SOM from New Delhi, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha said that Kodagu was the only district in the State that did not have rail connectivity and he was glad that he was able to finally get the approval for this long pending project.
The Railway Ministry, which had earlier conducted a feasibility test, has sanctioned Rs. 667 crore for the project and the works is expected to begin soon.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / February 25th, 2016
Niranjan Nikam in conversation with Yamini Muthanna.
Mysuru is the Ashtanga Yoga capital of the world, a sobriquet which is music to the ears of Mysureans, after the cleanest city tag for the second time. The city has also produced two of the finest yoga exponents in the world, B.K.S. Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois. However, there is one more Guru, who is quietly doing his bit on whom many discerning yoga practitioners swear — it is B.N.S. Iyengar.
Bengaluru-based Yamini Muthanna, dancer and yoga exponent, is one such. She was in city recently to participate in the launch function of her book “The Power of Yoga” at Dhvanyaloka Open Air Theatre.
After the book launch, organised by the Mysore Book Club, a first-of-its-kind experiment in Mysuru, Yamini, who gave a breath-taking yoga demonstration, shared her views on how the book shaped, the power of yoga, the undue importance for competitions and why everybody should practice yoga, with Senior Journalist N. Niranjan Nikam. Excerpts. — Ed
by N. Niranjan Nikam
SOM: We just saw your demonstration of yoga. I was thinking all the time, aren’t children the best yogis because their body is so flexible. How is it that we lose all that and only when we see people like you, we say to ourselves, “I wish I was like her — flexible, elastic and graceful.”
Yamini Muthanna: Children are natural Yogis. They are so free in their mind and body so the Asanas are easy for them. They do not have points of resistance either in their body and mind due to stress or tension that an adult might have. Therefore, I personally feel that flexibility in a Yoga Asana practice is a product of freeing the body and mind rather than putting in a lot of imposed effort. Anybody can train to be flexible with proper training of the body and freedom in mind. Yoga Asanas are patterned so beautifully that the body can be slowly animated into an Asana with proper judgement and care.
SOM: Yamini, you started yoga at a young age and you have come a long way. What made you write “The Power of Yoga?”
Yamini: My practice of Yoga has been extremely beneficial for me in all circumstances of my life. It helped me cope during my teenage through motherhood. I have been in constant touch with my body and mind and Yoga has helped me to be always aware. Once I started teaching from 2001 onwards, I noticed it was helping my students also to deal with situations better than how they used to handle things before they started practice. I started documenting their progress and started prescribing need-based specific practice sessions. It was helping my students and, therefore, I decided to share it for a larger group of yoga enthusiasts. My message in the book is you can choose your daily practice according to your day’s needs and have tried to explain how it works.
SOM: I learnt a little bit of yoga about 25 years ago from a Guru here. Later, I practiced for quite some time with the book, “Light on Yoga,” by B.K.S. Iyengar. Your book is equally interesting as you make it look very simple, how far have you come?
Yamini: Guru B.K.S Iyengar’s book is my Bible for my personal Asana study. He has set the benchmark of perfection in the Asanas and I am yet to come across another book equal to that of “Light on Yoga.” The book has been my Guru ever since I started personal practice. I did personal practice from 1996 to 2001 before I started to teach. I did a thorough study of the book, summarised by Guru B.N.S. Iyengar’s teachings and built up my practice, experimented my understanding and documented them in a way which would be easy for a Yoga Practitioner to comprehend. My book is not about loads of information but it is a guide to delve deeper in the practice by triggering a curiosity.
SOM: Yamini, you were talking to me about angles and Trikonasana which is the cover page that has caught you in action is such a perfect pose. Share a little about angles and sequences with our audience.
Yamini: I have a strong understanding that Yoga Asanas are geometric patterns from the Sri Chakra Yantra. I do not want to go to the details of it as I do not have proof and specific information about it. Just as Guru B.N.S.Iyengar mentioned in his speech earlier that the body will get chiselled into a fine cut diamond with perfect glitter in the body with the practice of Asanas and Pranayama. I would like to add that perfect geometry exists in pyramids and prisms also creating certain beneficial energy source forming specific benefits in the universe. It is in the same lines I personally feel that Asanas are also patterned to generate specific benefit to the body. Therefore, it is very important to maintain perfect lines in an Asana construction.
SOM: You have talked at length about asanas, chakras, mudras, pranayama and their benefits, all with photographs and you yourself doing each one of them. However, you have not mentioned time needed for each asana, or have I missed it?
Yamini: No I have not gone too much into the details of these deeper practices of Hatha Yoga as I do not want practitioners to try them on their own with the help of a book as they could be dangerous. It is very important that their first instruction comes from a Guru. I have just mentioned them as an information guide into the future practice.
SOM: You said that you do not believe in giving certificates. I would like to share my experience — I had written a story about yoga talking to a teacher about four years ago titled “Posturing ‘Olympics’ (op)position.” I had read an article in Deccan Herald about a move to include yoga performance in Olympics. The yoga teacher had opposed this idea and I had even quoted that B.K.S. Iyengar was also not in its favour. You yourself and a few noted yoga exponents including Sharath Jois, grandson of Pattabhi Jois, whom I met the other day does not favour it. When I sourced this article of mine which I had promptly forgotten, after four years, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were 39 comments on it but all blasting me away to glory.
Yamini: I do not agree that Yoga Asana be treated as sports. Yoga is all about a personal well-being routine rather than challenge or competition. Your practice is your personal journey and you don’t need to get a medal or stand on a victory stand to announce your success. You silently practice yoga and reap the glory of the practice by using it in life and your routine mundane activities. It’s not sports.
SOM: But you yourself had participated in competitions earlier. In fact that is how you started your tryst with yoga.
Yamini: I did go for two competitions in 1986 and 1987, won the championships and understood it was a mistake. Master was also not too pleased by it. I did not inform him before entering the contest, because I knew he would not let me. I was sorry for a long time for that mistake.
SOM: What is the difference between a Nadia Comãneci’s perfect ten and yoga postures is the question many ask? Can you highlight the difference?
Yamini: Well, I am going to answer this in brief. Gymnasts use a lot of kinetic energy in their postures and expel a lot of force and energy to get into their perfect positions. Yoga uses potential energy with holds and binds in the asanas conserving energy. So some of the postures look the same but the benefits and the source of construction are different in both Yoga and Gymnastics.
SOM: Yamini you are a Kodava — and Kodavas are slim, tall, elegant, beautiful, handsome, rugged and with wiry bodies. The trouble sometimes is, we stereotype people. Did you turn a vegetarian when you started practicing yoga?
Yamini: I am a proud Kodavathi rooted in my Kodava culture and tradition. I have not given up anything at all. But my personal development has adopted various principles from my study of the two classical disciplines. They are my personal principles that do not interfere with my home culture, which is Kodava. [Daughter of Chendrimada Raja (late) and Sundari, Yamini is married to Kotera C. Muthanna].
No I did not turn vegetarian when I started practicing Yoga, though I changed a lot of principles to suit my practice. However, I am not a great fan of non-vegetarian food. You can call me a “No-fussytarian.” I eat whatever is healthy.
SOM: How much of your yoga has influenced your dance?
Yamini: A lot, in terms of energy and health. Breathing especially gets regulated when we do rigorous dancing. It has helped me keep my body agile and supple and less injury-prone.
SOM: What are your future plans and why the word ‘Power’ in the title of the book?
Yamini: Future plans — I shall keep doing what I am doing with more passion and conviction. I shall keep replenishing my knowledge in these two subjects. With the blessings of my Gurus, I have no doubt in accomplishing this; I will need their support and guidance always. I have already started my next book on Yoga, which would be exclusively for women from 18 to 80. The contents are just shaping up. I feel it will give an interesting perspective on woman’s body and how Yoga could benefit maintenance.
“Power,” I can’t think of a better term for Yoga. Yoga is a source of Power to better your life. As one adapts Yoga into his/her lifestyle, it becomes more and more obvious. I am using the term to emphasise this fact… It’s been my personal Power.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Niranjan Nikam / February 24th, 2016
WELCOME. If you like what you see "SUBSCRIBE via EMAIL" to receive FREE regular UPDATES.
Read More »
