Come Republic Day and David Hall in Fort Kochi will light up with handmade goodies from all over the world. Lasting up to the 29th is an innovative venture by A Hundred Hands, an artisans’ collective based in Bangalore. They’ll also offer live demonstration of the process behind the products.
Mala Dhawan and her sister, Sonia set up the nonprofit trust in 2010. They only showcase products that are made by hand – right now there are about 40 members in the collective. Urban and rural artists, as well as those from the hilly regions will be represented at the crafts bazaar. You’ll find anything from beeswax lip balm and silk sarees to household linen and carpets here.
The four I’s that are pillars of the organisation are:
Innovate: Evolve and reinvent products, designs, mediums and experiences
Interact: Participate! Encourage young people to develop a love of working with their hands and older ones to develop or reignite a hobby.
Inform: Build sensitivity and appreciation not only for the end result of handmade work but also the process and effort involved.
Include: Transcend social and economic barriers to build a community of artists and like-minded individuals.
Besides Mala Dhawan and Sonia, A Hundred Hands has others, too, as founders and advisory board members. Bindia Thapar an architect by training and an illustrator by choice. Prem Subramaniam has worked in the fields of Engineering, Tourism and CSR. Melissa Arulappan is interested in and good at baking, cooking, and is a public relations consultant. Pankaj Wadhwa is a successful entrepreneur
The handmade products are sold via community bazaars, workshops, volunteer programmes and corporate tie-ups.
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in south Kerala has been chosen by Anthropological Survey of India as of the 17 biosphere reserves in India for research. It part of the 11th Five Year Plan. AnSI’s principal investigator Dr Samir Ghosal will lead a group of researchers to study certain villages and understand the nature and extent of sustainable utilization of natural resources by the communities living inside the area. The studies will contribute to the national project ‘Man and Environment: Biosphere Reserve Study’.
‘Man and Environment in respect of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve’, a workshop will be held at TBGRI. Several prominent researchers and scientists will present papers at the event. The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, established in 2001, covers 3,500sq.km. Almost half of that is located in the Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The famed peak, 1,868-metre-high Agasthyamala is located in this biosphere area. Three wildlife sanctuaries of Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney are part of the biosphere.
The Social Forestry Department of Kerala has hit upon a grand idea to provide shelter to migratory birds. The department will distribute monthly remuneration to private property owners who preserve trees on their premises. This will help birds to roost in them.
In order to enroll for the program, those interested must submit his biodata along with an application to the forest department, stating the details of the tree, its genre, the bird varieties which make a home on the tree, the number of cavities and a recent colour photograph of the tree. You also have to get a recommendation letter from the local self- government representative and an affidavit that you will protect the tree at least for a year. The remuneration to be received has still to be decided.
This special program is planned in the regions of Alappuzha, Kuttanad, Kottayam and Pathiramanal Island. The latter has a large migratory bird sanctuary – one of the best in Asia. There are about 90 species of birds at Pathiramanal Island and areas close by. This venture will benefit trees and birds as well as the environment.
Taking place on Fort Kochi Beach, the Kerala Kite Festival is in its third edition. It is a three-day event – from 21st to 23rd January. Kite Life Foundation, District Tourism Promotion Council and Kerala Tourism are the joint organisers. Kite making and kite flying are the major events.
The competition will be based on three themes – the big kite, the best humanitarian message kite and the best innovative kite. There’s no age limit for the competitions. The winners will get prizes, certificates and membership in the Team Kerala Kite (Club) promoted by KLF. Kite Life Foundation is an NGO promoted by a group of kite flyers. KLF conducts workshops for students and offers new dimensions in kite making.
For details and to register, log on to www.kitelifefoundation.org or call 9895455115/9847328146.
Ernakulathappan Ground in Cochin will see a colourful bloom come January 10th. Organised by the Ernakulam District Agri-Horticulture Society, the Cochin Flower Show 2012 will go on till January 16th and will have thousands of flower varieties being displayed.
There will be many original and hybrid varieties of plants from all over the world. Nurseries, farming societies, farmers, buyers and general public are welcome. After 2006, the venue for the flower show was moved from Subhash Park, Park Avenue Road, to Ernakulathappan Ground.
For details, contact 0484-2362738 or 94471 88443.
Canadian Hotel chain Fairmont’s Jaipur hotel is accepting reservations for arrival from 15 February 2012. Fairmont Jaipur offers world-class accommodations, a variety of delectable dining experiences and exclusive services including a sparkling outdoor pool and full-service spa. This is India first Fairmont hotel and it is located in the Pink City.
Canadian Tourism Commission, Canada’s tourism marketing and promotion agency, is organizing a major B2B road show, ‘Focus Canada – India’ at Fairmont Jaipur. It will be held between 13th and 15th of March 2012. It will be attended by about 50 Canadian sellers including Provincial Tourism Boards, tour operators, hotels, lodges, attractions and almost 60 hosted Indian buyers. This buyer-seller forum will help to network interactions between the two.
At a Chennai function celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh just declared 2012 as the ‘National Mathematical year’ as a tribute to the Math wizard. He also honoured Professor Robert Kanigel, who has written a biography of Ramanujan.
Along with the Nobel laureates C.V. Raman and Subramanyam Chandrashekhar, Ramanujan is among the three great men of science and mathematics that Tamil Nadu and India have given to the world.
Along with Ramada Resort and School of Management Studies, CUSAT, the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organising a seminar on ‘Tourism Infrastructure in Kerala’. It will be held on December 19 and plans to set up a forum for potential investors to invest in tourism projects in Kerala.
Tourism Minister Anil Kumar will be the chief guest at the event. The seminar aims to look at discussing direct and public-private partnership (PPP) model investments from non-resident Keralites in tourism projects.
The 12th edition of the Sanctuary Wildlife Awards announced on Thursday were awarded to those devoted to conserve wildlife – ranging from forest officials and biologists to wildlife filmmaker and photographers. They were chosen via nominations from readers and supporters of the Sanctuary Asia magazine.
Another award ‘Wind under the Wings’ was conferred upon the Maharashtra Government for allowing free reign to Principal Secretary of Forests Praveen Pardeshi in revitalising wildlife conservation in the state.
As frequent travellers may already agree, there are several ways and modes to explore a city. You can hire a taxi, hitchhike with a friend or just walk about. Let’s see how a visitor to Cochin will be able to find out more about the city and travel around.
For The Groupie: Go On A Bus Tour
Bus tours for groups take you around Cochin to visit at least five to six major tourist spots. Most travel agencies also arrange for a guide to travel with you; that makes life so much simpler!
For The Adventurous: Hitchhike
Although this isn’t a very safe option for women, if you’re adventurous enough you can try it. Grab a map and hitch a ride on a motor cycle or car on the road. If your companion has time, then he or she will take you around to see the churches, temples and famous Chinese Fishing Nets.
For The Water-lover: Hire a boat
As there’s a lot to see in and around the city of Cochin, especially Fort Cochin and Kumbalanghi, hiring a boat or a ferry ride are good options. A country boat or a pedal-boat in the lagoons is the best way to watch village life close at hand.
For The History-Lover: Take A History Tour
With big names such as Dutch Palace, Hill Palace and Archaeological Museum, Kerala Folklore Museum, Indo-Portuguese Museum and Kerala History Museum, you will have plenty on your hands if you wanna know about the history of Cochin and Kerala. Learn about the state’s and city’s demographic landscape, ancient history, lifestyle and other details at these museums. Some of them also have light and sound shows and special movie screenings.
For The Strong Legs: Engage Yourself In A Walking Tour
Fort Cochin and nearby areas can be visited on a walking tour. The streets are fairly wide and neatly-decorated. Shopkeepers on either side will beckon you to their shops. So will the small restaurant owners! A walking tour keeps you updated on the details and helps you to maintain your fitness as well.
For The Eco-Conscious: Hire A Bicycle
If you are bothered about the carbon footprint that you’re likely to leave behind when you go about in a vehicle, then choose a sturdy bicycle and cycle away! The streets are cycle-friendly and you can watch life going on, from a very close distance.
