A Christian church in Thiruvananthapuram has opened its doors to what was once labelled as ‘unchristian’ or even ‘pagan’.
Yoga, ‘pranayama’ and meditation have found their way to the Mar Thoma Church at Vazhuthacaud, where the members of its health club meet every Friday evening at the Parish hall of the church for physical exercises and meditation. 
The church authorities say the exercise would help keep away old-age illnesses like backache, breathing problems, stiffness of joints, spondylitis and so on.
The members of the club are senior citizens in the age group of …

The monograph on Sree Narayana Guru, poet, philosopher and social reformer, titled ‘Brahmarshi Sree Narayana Guru’, written by the late T Bhaskaran, will be translated to 23 regional languages by the Kendra Sahitya Akademi.
Bhaskaran was a noted Malayalam and Sanskrit scholar, writer and former director of the Oriental Research Institute and Manuscripts Library, Kerala University.
The decision was taken by the Sahitya Akademi on the basis of a matter raised by P T Thomas MP, under Rule 377, during a Lok Sabha debate.
A J Thomas, Vijayakumar Kunnissery, H Balasubramoniam and Parvathi …

Cardiac surgery is set to become cheap with the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), after three years of research, starting production of cardiac patches using de-cellularised animal tissue which is the first of its kind in the country.
The research was a joint venture of Kerala Livestock Development Board and SCTIMST, in which the former provided animal tissue sourced from a low risk herd or well-monitored herd. The success of the research helps in producing de-cellularised animal tissue such as bovine pericardium and bovine jugular vein …

Balamurali Namboodiri of Edamana Illam is the new ‘melsanthi’ (head priest) of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.
T K Eswaran Namboodiri of Attukal has been selected as the head priest of the adjoining Malikappuram Devi temple.
Both the priests would continue for one year after taking over on November 16, when the two-month long pilgrim season
of the hillshrine begins.
The priests, who will have to stay at the hillshrine for the entire year, were chosen by drawing lot from a list of
candidates shortlisted by the Travancore Deveswom Board (TDB).
The list was prepared by interviewing …

The proposed Kochi metro rail is likely to be extended up to Kakkanad by establishing an alignment towards the IT hub from Palarivattom.  
Land would be made available near the  Nehru International Stadium for the metro trains to take a turn towards Palarivattom Junction along the existing one-way road. The trains can then proceed to Kakkanad through the Palarivattom Bypass Junction.
The distance up to the Kakkanad Smart City site from Palarivattom would be over 8 km. The extension work would be carried out along with work on the proposed Aluva-Pettah …

The 109th commemoration perunnal of Parumala St Gregorios Metropolitan will be celebrated at Parumala from October 26 to November 2.
The festivall celebrations would begin with the hoisting of the flag by Geevarghese Mar Osthathios and Yuhanon Mar Chrisostimos at 2 pm on October 26.
Senior Catholicos of Malankara Orthodox Church Baselios Mar Thoma Didimos I would inaugurate the annual Parumala pilgrimage week celebrations at  3 pm.
Malankara Association secretary George Joseph  would welcome the gathering. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios would preside over the function.
Yuhanon Mar Chrisostimos,  Mathews Mar Thevodosios, Johns Abraham Konattu, Jacob …

 The two-day spiritual odyssey of Swami Udit Chaitanya in UK drew a large number of  audience at different venues.
Addressing a `satsang` at  Sree Narayana Guru Mission, the swamiji laid the emphasis on strengthening one’s mind to face the growing challenges of the changing times.” Believe in your mind and embolden it through infusing conscious energy”, he said.
Swamiji addressed events held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,4A Castletown Road and at Murguan Temple, Church Road.
Swami Chaitanya is due to address another `satsang` to be hosted by the Kent Hindu Samajam on Saturday, 22nd  October 2011 …

Kerala is set to host a Global Ayurveda Festival, a mega event to promote the Ayurveda system of medicine, in Thiruvanathapuram beginning February 9 to 14, 2012.
The event, which includes a series of seminars, exhibitions, and events showcasing the potential of Ayurveda, will be organised by the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA), with the cooperation of the Department of Ayurveda.
Apart from the Department of Ayurveda, representatives and professional bodies from Ayurveda-based industries and the Ayurveda Medicine Manufacturers’ Association are associating with the event.
Seminars involving international Ayurveda …

Kerala is likely to have its first flight direct connection to Europe. The German carrier Lufthansa has reportedly responded positively to an offer by the Cochin International Airport Limited to commence a direct service from Kochi to Frankfurt.
Last week, the airline’s Director for South Asia Axel Hilgers visited Kochi and held discussions with representatives of CIAL and other stake-holders in the state’s travel industry. The visit follows a preliminary discussion between the carrier and Airport Company held earlier. The carrier now needs to conduct an independent feasibility study and calculate …

Renowned spiritual guru Swami Udit Chaitanya will deliver  discourse in London on two days from tomorrow. On Saturday, October 15, the Swamiji would address an event to be held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (4A Castletown Road,London W14 9HE . Phone020 7381 3086)from 3pm to 4pm. Sunday, October 16, swami Chaitanyai would deliver speech from 3pm to 5pm at Sree Narayana Guru Mission (16 Barking Road,London E6 3BP). From 5:30-7pm he will address the devotees at Murguan Temple(78-90 Church Road London E12 6AF).

 Three Technopark companies, MobME Wireless, Innoz Technologies and Flytxt, have featured in the NASSCOM’s list of 50 most emerging IT companies in the country for 2011. MobME Wireless and Flytxt have been chosen in the Emerge Innovation category and Innoz Technologies in the Emerge Start-ups Category.
  NASSCOM Emerge Leaders Awards is an initiative, which has been started exclusively for the emerging start-up IT companies to showcase their unique value proposition and create a distinct niche for them.
  MobME Wireless CEO Sanjay Vijayakumar, on winning this recognition, said that it is …

The selection of the new Melsanthi of  Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple is due to be held at the temple precincts on October 18. 
The selection of the new melsanthis for Sabarimala and Malikappuram Devi temples will be held in front of the  Sopanam at 8 a.m. on October 18 after Usha pooja.
 The shortlisted melsanthi aspirants of nine each for Sabarimala and Malikappuram were selected at an interview held at the devaswom headquarters on October 3 and 4.  The final melsanthi selection, on the basis of draw of lots, would be held …

The development of Kochi Metro rail proejct is gathering pace with the authorites start dismantling the North rail overbridge (RoB). After demoliting the entry point of the bridge, holes were drilled in the middle part of the bridge to cut it into pieces.
The entire structure will be lifted and moved to other places where it will be broken into pieces. Each side bay is four-and-a-half-metre wide. The construction of the side bays is expected to be completed in six months. The dismantling of the other side bay will begin after …

The State Government has sanctioned Rs12 crore for the proposed Attukal Towsnhsip Project. The government would  appoint a special officer for the devel[pment project, the Industries and Town Planning Minister P K Kunhalikutty said.
 The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and the State Government together fund the  Rs 4 crore for conducting the annual festival. But there is no administrative office for the project.

Muthoot Finanace UK Ltd, the British arm of India’s multi-billion-dollar financial giant Muthoot Group, opened its second retail outlet in East Ham Friday.
Mr M G George Muthoot, Chairman, Muthoot Group, formally opened the new branch. Ms Sara George, Director, Muthoot Group, inaugurated the branch operations by lighting a traditional lamp.
Sharing the Group’s interests in the UK, Mr George Muthoot  said   the Group is keen on the country’s highly potential hospitality industry. `Of course, Tata has a hotel in London. But that doesn’t stop us from coming in’, he said. The  …

Actor Mohanlal will lead the Kerala Strikers – Malayalam film industry’s answer to teams from other moviedoms in the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL). Actor Indrajith has been named the vice-captain. The team of Malayalam actors, along with its jersey and logo, was launched at a sparkling function here on Thursday. 
 The Kerala cine actors’ team is set to battle out with its counterparts from the Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi film industries in the second edition of the T-20 cricket tournament organised exclusively for filmstars.
The team will play five matches in …

Sinai Marthoma Church in North London is holding ‘Fusion Fest 2011′on Saturday,October 22. The venue is St Georges Hall, 98A, Pinner View, Harrow – HA1 4RJ. 
It is an evening entertainment and a social gathering followed by dinner.
Doors open at 5:00 pm for a prompt start at 6pm. 
 
Tickets are available to purchase in advance from the event representatives Mr. Dileep Cheriyan (07503942112) or Mr Sharlay Varghese (07760242469) or myself, Aju Alexander (07788585305). 
Adult ticket is £ 10, Child (below 10) is £5 and a family ticket for 4 members is  £30.
 
 
 

Christians or Hindus, thousands of tiny tots in Kerala were initiated to the world of letters, traditionally called `Vidyarambham”, Thursday.
Children thronged temples, churches, clubs and other places. The ceremony saw academics, litterateurs, teachers and even politicians hold the hands of the young ones to help them write Malayalam letters on a plate of rice or on sand.
Originally perceived as a Hindu event, for the last few years it has taken place at churches, with the local priest or a guest invited by the church helping the children write. 
While Hindus write …

Kerala government is looking for private investors to develop the state’s more than a dozen minor ports. The government is working on a proposal regarding this that would be presented at the forthcoming Global Investors’ Meet-Emerging Kerala. 
The development of ports is expected to reduce the movements of cargo on roads to a great extent. The development of minor ports would also be a booster to the tourism sector. 
Though basic infrastructure such as breakwater and warehouses are  provided at some of the ports, no significant investments were made to construct berths, …

Kerala  became the first ‘total banking state’ in the country, with the unique distinction of each household in all the 14 districts having at least one bank account and banking facilities available within the reach of people everywhere. 
It was the “Total Financial Inclusion Programme” (FIP) launched by the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) that brought the achievement. 
Making the landmark announcement at a meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that even as the state had added yet another first to its credit, the banks should shed their conservative …