Kajal Aggarwal came dressed in her favorite color blue sari and mentioned that it would be the best option to wear in such a situation in Kerala. She said that she is very happy to know the fact that she has thousands of fans in Kerala. Kajal Aggarwal in Karikkeneth inauguration mentioned that she is proud to be Kerala and it is the first time she came to Kerala and is very happy to visit such a beautiful place.

The participation in this programme is open to all art exhibitions, talks, concerts and theatre events for general public and professionals from various art forms. The Kochi Muziris Biennale OPEN 2012 events will be selected by public vote and the winning KMB OPEN 2012 participation will awarded the Best of KMB OPEN 2012 trophy at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale awards ceremony. The winner will also be featured in the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2012 catalogue. The following are the upcoming Open Events at KMB 2012. The events are mentioned in the order of date, programme, performer, venue and time.

12.12.2012 – 25.12.2012 A public art installation by Mrida and Bharat Joshi for raising awareness on environmental conservation. (Fort Kochi Beach).

16.12.2012 Cochin Carnival. (Various venues in the city).

26.12.2012 –  30.12.2012 Chuvati Festival 2012 -Chavittunatakam Festival. (Gothuruth Village, 6 pm).

29.12.2012 Rudra Veena recital by Bahauddin Dagar. (AJ Hall, Kaloor 6:30 pm).

31.12.2012 Triple Thyamabaka: Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar, Sreekanth and Sreeraj. (Fort Kochi Beach, 8 pm).

05.01.2013 Hindustani Classical Vocal by Dr.Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande. (AJ Hall, Kaloor 6:30 pm).

18.01.2013 Kathakali by Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan. (Kathakali Club – Tripunithura, 7:00 pm)

20.01.2013 Carnatic Vocal by Dr. Sreevalsan J. Menon. (Changampuzha Park,Edappally, 6:30 pm).

26.01.2013 Nangiarkoothu by Usha Nangiar and Group. (Changampuzha Park, Edappally, 6.00 pm).

02.02.2013 Bharatanatyam by Meera Nangiar & Group. (Changampuzha Park, Edappally, 6.00 pm).

09.02.2013 Mohiniyattam by Jayaprabha Menon. (Changampuzha Park, Edappally, 6.00 pm).

10.02.2013 Koodiyattam by Usha Nangiar. (Kathakali Club, Tripunithura, 6:00 pm).

16.02.2013 Choral Music Recital by Stop Gaps Cultural Academy, Mumbai. (AJ Hall, Kaloor, 6:30 pm).

16.02.2013 Ottanthullal by Kalamandalam Sarmila & Group (Changampuzha Park, Edappally, 6.00 pm).

21.02.2013 Manipuri dance by Jawaharlal Nehru Manipuri Dance Academy, Imphal. In association with Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi. (Durbar Hall Ground, 6:30 pm).

23.02.2013 Mridangam solo recital by Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman. (AJ Hall, Kaloor 6:30 pm).

04.03.2013 Sattriya dances by Sattriya Kendra, Guwahati in association with Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi. (Durbar Hall Ground,6:30 pm).

09.03.2013 Mizhavu concert by V.K.K. Hariharan. (Aspinwall House,7:00 pm).

13.03.2013 Melam by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar & Group. (Aspinwall House).

The art forms exhibited by national and international exhibition includes film, installation, painting, sculpture, new media and performance art. This event in turn will give a rebirth to the ancient port of Muziris at Kochi. This will be an inevitable event for students of all ages and people of all walks of life as it is a rich programme of talks, seminars, screenings, music, workshops and educational activities.

Muziris Heritage Project

The Muziris Heritage Project is conceived from the ancient city of Muziris which is located about 30 km from Kochi, Kerala, India. The Muziris Heritage Project with the Kochi – Muziris Biennale is aimed to connect the past century with the contemporary day. The state government of Kerala and the central government of India together restored several archaeological areas of the city. The city with its archaeological and historical evidences proves Muziris as business and cultural centre of the past age dating back to more than 2000 years. The Muziris Heritage Project includes areas of North Paravur and Kodungallur Taluks as there are several protected monuments of the past. Thus, this area is very popular among domestic and international tourists in Kerala now a day.

Hypothetical Future Value (HFV) Project

Hypothetical Future Value project in partnership with Kochi Muziris Biennale offers a space for parallel criteria through which everyone can contribute to the construction as well as analysis of the project. This aims to evoke the potential of youth. The Kochi Muziris Biennale HFV Project will be displayed in the streets of Kochi as it would help the youth of the city to get engaged. New ideas on future values are expected from youth.

History of Muziris

Muziris is an ancient seaport dating back to the 1^st Century B.C. which was the financial centre of the time. It is believed that the city of Muziris was washed away due to the Periyar river flood in 1341 AD. For Indo-Roman Empire and Indo-Greek trade, Muziris served as a key link route. This witnessed great number of Roman, Greek, Chinese, Jewish and Arab traders from across the sea and appreciated their cultures, architecture and art forms. Some of these are still found in this area.

This region is world know as it holds India’s first church (Mar Thoma Church), first mosque (Cheraman Juma Masjid) and the oldest European monument (Portuguese fort). Thus, it’s a place of religious harmony in addition to arts and culture.

The Opening Week Schedule is as follows:

For the Schedule, view the [Gallery

It was Sri. Manjalamkuzhy Ali, Hon. Minister for Urban Affairs and Welfare of Minorities at the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry who launched the official logo of ABCDE on 25 May 2012. The three day exhibition at Kochi is not only for discussing the problems in the construction field but also will be a venue to exhibit innovative products, services, ideas etc. to the public by professionals from all over India.

For Visitors: Visitors will be able to understand the products live and be able to understand the latest innovations and trends in construction. This will be also a venue to know the modern facilities which are cost effective too.

For Exhibitors: For exhibitors it will be chance for introducing and popularizing new products and techniques and thereby enhancing brand value and improving contacts for better business.

Expected Visitors: General public, representatives of banks, hospitals, schools, colleges, etc.

Benefits: Displays new products, technologies, companies, fashion, trends, etc.

Some of the stalls in IRC 2012 Kovalam were the Rubber Board Stall, Kodi Healthcare Pvt. Ltd, Bharat Petroleum, Accuplast, MRF, Malankara Plantation, All India Rubber Industries Association and so on. The conference official partner list includes the popular, experienced and experimented brands including Harrison Malayalam Limited, Apolo Tyres ltd and Kerala State Council for Science Technology & Environment. The main co-sponsors of the event held were Automotive Tyre Manufactures Association (ATM), Reliance Industries ltd, Rubber Park, etc.

Machines & Techniques in the show

Lohashilpi gallery at IRC 2012

The show also introduced new and useful techniques in rubber sheet development. The major attractive thing in developing rubber sheet was by the manufacturer of rubber developing machine Lohashilpi. Lohashilipi is an electric machine that helps in developing rubber sheets in good shape saving time and energy. Another major attraction is the rubber sheet washing machine that washes the 1.25 tons of rubber sheets within an hour. These two machines are very helpful and cost effective for large rubber planters. The rubber sheet washing machine is also useful for rubber dealers who have great number of rubber sheets to wash daily. This saves them time and money on human resource.

Healthcare Products in the show

Kodi Healthcare stall at IRC 2012

Kodi Healthcare Pvt. Ltd was a major attraction in the show with healthcare products at low cost. Kodi Healthcare Pvt. Ltd pavilion introduced their products for both Indian and international market. The company is one of the best healthcare product makers based in Kerala with the leading hospitals all over India in their client list. The company show cased some of their major rubber products including surgical mesh, urine collection bags, external male catheter, latex urethral catheter, Foley balloon catheter, etc. and explained to the visitors about the products in detail. A good professionalism and hospitality was shown to all the visitors by all the stall members in the IRC 2012 show Trivandrum. The visitors were happy about the number of stalls and the useful products displayed. The show also created a venue for rubber tree growers, business entrepreneurs, rubber nursery owners, rubber industrialists, health care products, agri-input distributors and dealers of rubber products.

[Gallery]

The attractions of the show include vehicle pavilions and portfolios by manufactures with their upcoming models and concept vehicles. There will a separate pavilion for accessories including spoilers, alloy wheels, sound system, etc. to make your vehicles more sporty and comfortable. This will be an excellent venue for those who are thinking of buying a new car soon. You can see car models of all the manufacturers at a single venue enabling you to understand the various features of each car by segment and price list.

Public from any discipline and age is welcomed to the Cochin motor show 2012 with an entrance fee of Rs. 50 for adults and Rs. 25 for children. Only children up to 2 years of age can enter for free. You may buy the 2012 Cochin Motor Show tickets on the spot or from various outlets but the tickets bought are never refundable according to the rules and regulations of the show. And the tickets will be valid only for the date mentioned on the ticket and cannot be used for any other days.

The Show for Exhibitors

For the exhibitors, the show is to market the products and services. It is a chance for the manufacturers to show off the products and do an excellent marketing of the existing products and upcoming products. The products in the show include not only the vehicles but also accessories to make your cars luxurious, comfortable and sporty.

The Show for Visitors

And for the visitors or the customers it is a good chance to see and understand different vehicles makers and their products that are already on the market and that to come in near future. Thus, by visiting it you might also be able to wait a short while if you have something coming up in near future of your choice and convenience.

In the Show

The show promises awards for the best bikes displayed, best staff, best motor accessory, best auto magazine, best modified car and best concept design of car. So, contact the personnel to show your modified cars or bike to win a prize and be noticed.

Even though modernization, recession, price hike for essential commodities and many other economical factors have brought about many changes in the way this “Festival of Harvest” is being celebrated, every Keralite finds his own way of Celebrating Onam. Athppokkalam, Puli Kali etc. are now considered as competition items. Some athapookalam designs have been shown below.

There are many games associated with Onam Celebration. Some of them are “Tug of War” (Vadam Vali), Boat Racing (Vallam Kali), Puli kali, Onathallu (Kayankali), Athakalam etc. Of all the games associated with Onam “Tug Of War” (vadam vali) and Boat Racing (vallam kali) are the most interesting, where the competitors compete and the spectators support the competitors with sheer obstinacy. Tug of War and Boat racing are the most famous of them all. Dance forms like Kathakali,  Thiruvathira, Thumbi Thullal, Kai kotty kali mark the special occasion of this festive season.

Onasadya, is the special feast that finds its own place in Onam celebrations. Onasadya is served on banana leaves. The main side dishes of onasadya includes Sambar, Avial, Olan, Kaalan, Koottukari, Thoran, Kichadi, Pachadi, Rasam, Paladapradhaman etc. Dessert is usually ‘payasam’, a sweet dish made of milk, sugar and other traditional Indian savories. There are a large no of payasams like Palpayasam, Semia payasam, Parippu payasam, Adapradhaman payasam etc  There is an old saying about onasadya “kaanam vittum onam unnanam” which means that one should have onasadya even by selling his own belongings. This shows the importance of Onam and particularly onasadya in a keralite’s life.

All these makes Onam the biggest  celebration in Kerala and it is celebrated by all Keralites despite of his caste or religion. Keralites all around the world, finds their own way of celebrating this festival. It is more than a passion for every malayalee to celebrate this festival in their ancestral home.

The 10 core areas that Pitroda pointed out were:

• Coastal waterways.
• High speed rail corridor.
• Building of a knowledge city.
• State-wide mobile phone-enabled health insurance scheme.
• Expanding E-Governance project.
• Scheme to connect all Panchayats through a broadband internet system.
• Scheme to boost Kerala’s traditional industries.
• Proper and modern waste management schemes.
• Making the state a world capital of Ayurveda.
• Improved vocational education scheme.

Kerala’s inland waterway system could be leveraged to put in place coastal freight navigation system. Sam Pitroda has advised the state to tap the potential of its waterways. A large-scale shift in freight movement to boats etc. would reduce to a great extent the traffic congestion in the State. Pitroda believes the High Speed Rail Corridor project to be the biggest of all projects in Vision 2030. The project though would take years to materialize. But for better future we have to start implementing from the basics. The knowledge city in the capital city of the state, Thiruvananthapuram would contain universities, research laboratories and institutes, cultural spaces and commercial and residential units. The idea of giving everyone in the state an Insurance scheme also came up in the meeting. The expenses were to be raised by mobile phone users in the state. Improving E-Governance and the proposal to connect all the Panchayats through broadband Internet connection also came up in the meeting.

The scheme to boost Kerala’s traditional industries would target coir, cashew, and handloom. New technology, methodology, and tools would be ushered in to modernize traditional industries. Then there was discussion on the waste management system. Mr. Pitroda pointed out that there were several improvisations to be made and the State Government should look into it as soon as possible. Then there was talk about making Kerala the world capital of Ayurveda and the improvements to be brought in Vocational educational scheme. This would be used to impart vocational skills to unemployed youth.

The team would come back to the state within 90 day with a ‘white paper’ on these projects and discuss with the state government to finalize those to be taken up, Pitroda said. If the state packages its projects properly, people would be ready to invest in the state, Pitroda said. The meeting was held at Thiruvananthapuram. Mr. Chandy told the press conference that Vision 2030 was being drawn up so that Kerala did not miss any more buses on the development front.

Three day long flower show organized by Agri-horticultural society has started at Kottayam. The show is taking place at Nagambadom Municipal playground. The show started on 12^thJanuary 2012 and will be end on January 15. The event showcases varieties of flowers and medicinal plants. Wide range of flower and medicinal plants from 27 plant nurseries will be the most attraction of the fest. Air conditioned 40,000 sq. ft.shed with modern facilities has set up for the flower fest. And it is the largest flower fest in mid-Kerala. The fest is organized by horticulture society and is sponsored by Malabar Gold group.

Fest Attractions

Ravindran Nagarkovil who is a well-known Bonsai planter is exhibiting his most seldom variety of Bonsai in the show. Hundreds of flower stalls are lined up with wide varieties. Orchids, Adeenium, Youphorbia, Helakonaya, Rose, Marigold Hybrid, and plants from Pune such as Poinsettia, Chrisanthamam, Gusmania, and Wax Bigonia are the special attractions of the show. Plants and vegetable crops from different foundations and farmers will be there in the fest. Different competitions, foreign plantation tools and equipment are the specialties of the event. Flower decorations with foreign flowers by specialists will be a visual treat relish. Beautiful photography of Indian flowers of this week captured by Malayala Manorama photographers will also exhibit in the show.

Programs

January 13, 2012

Competitions start at 8.00am

10.30 am – Fest Inauguration by Sunny Kalloor

Ticket Marketing Inauguration by Mamman Mathew, Malayala Manorama Chief Editor

6.45 pm – Mega Show by Cochin Mega Star

January 14, 2012

11.00 am – Waste Management Seminar

2.30 pm – Agricultural Quiz

6.00 pm – Prize Distribution By Sheela Thomas (Rubber Board President)

6.30 pm – Mega Show by Cochin Stage India

Kerala Strikers, the official entry of Malayalam Film Industry in the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL), has launched its official website. The team led by Megastar Mohanlal also launched its Signature Music Video as well. The music CD was launched in a function featuring young Superstar Prithviraj and S. Sreesanth, Kerala’s presence in the Indian International Cricket team. The first copy of the music CD was presented to Prithviraj by the fast bowler S. Sreesanth. The official web site of the Kerala celebrity team, Kerala Strikers, was launched in all pomp and glory by actor, producer and director Thyagarajan. The music video featuring the stars of Malayalam Cinema was directed by A. L. Vijayan. The music was composed by Sanjeev Thomas, lead guitarist of A. R. Rahman. The video was shot over 15 days in various locations. The whole team will be featured in the video. Plus Bhavana and Laxmi Rai, the brand ambassadors of the Kerala Strikers are also featured in the video. The team organized by the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) is confident in the team and hopes they could emerge as Champions in the debut season of the Kerala Strikers.

The Celebrity League begins on January 13^th. The theme songs of various teams participating in the league will be heard around the stands and soon will top the charts. The theme song and the music video are already a hit among the masses, with the music video almost an instant hit with rapid views in YouTube. The official website of the Kerala Strikers contains team news, gallery, info and fixtures. The Tea team website is http://www.keralastrikers.in/. The official website also features the music video of the Kerala Strikers. Latest photos from the events organized as a part of the Kerala Strikers participation in the Celebrity Cricket League are also included in the website. Fixture and results from the Celebrity Cricket League can also be accessed from the official website. There is a section for the fans as well.

The Kerala Strikers will play their first match at Hyderabad on 21^st January versus the Chennai Rhinos. The Chennai Rhinos led by Tamil Superstar Vishal are the defending champions of the Celebrity Cricket League. Then Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Kochi will host the tie between the Kerala Strikers and the Mumbai Heroes on January 22^nd. The match surely promises to be one of the most entertaining matches that the Kerala Strikers have to be part of. A total of 5 matches will be played by the Kerala Strikers in the initial stage of the Celebrity Cricket League.  Each team will play 5 matches in the initial stage and there will be a total of 15 matches in the initial league phase. Then there will be two semifinal clashes and the final be hosted at Hyderabad on February 12^th.

The team Kerala Strikers is led by Mohanlal, an iconic figure in Malayalam movies. He says he is delighted to be part of the team and it’s an honor to lead a group of young talents. Indhrajith will be the Vice Captain of the team and also happens to be the team Wicket Keeper. The team also has Prithviraj, Kunchako Boban and Asif Ali. The team is coached by Pankaj Chandrasenan Nair and managed by Edavela Babu. Sunil is the Assistant Coach.

The Team:

• Chandra Senan   ( Chief Coach/Cricket Coordinator )
• Edavela Babu      (  Team Manager )
• Sunil M.A              ( Trainer )

• Mohanlal               ( Captain )
• Indhrajith             ( Vice Captain )
• Prithviraj
• Asif Ali
• Kunchako Boban
• Munna Simon
• Bala
• Vinu Mohan
• Vivek Gopan
• Rajeev Pillai
• Nikhil Menon
• Nivin Pauly
• Manikuttan
• Saiju Kurup
• Prajod Kalabhavan
• Riaz Ahmad
• Unni Mukundan
• Rejath Menon
• Bineesh Kodiyeri

Fixtures:

Kerala Strikers X Telugu Warriors

Hyderabad      21:01:2012

Kerala Strikers X Mumbai Heroes

Kochi                 22:01:2012

Kerala Strikers X Chennai Rhinos

Chennai           28:01:2012

Kerala Strikers X Bengal Tigers

Hyderabad      04:02:2012

Kerala Strikers X Karnataka Bulldozers

Kolkata             05:02:2012

Wishing Team Kerala Strikers All the Best..!!