70,000 copies of 'Heart Lamp' reprinted in 2 months, says Deepa Bhasthi
Bhasthi said that permission has been given to translate the work into Malayalam, Assamese and Oriya languages and requests from other languages have been coming in too.
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The Hindu
20 hours ago
- The Hindu
In a first, Munnar church holds Mass in Hindi for migrant workers
The Mount Carmel Basilica in Munnar has began holding a Mass in Hindi for migrant workers here. The first Hindi Mass was held on Sunday at 2 p.m. An increasing number of Hindi-speaking migrant workers in the plantation sector has lead to the decision, according to church authorities. 'Though the migrant workers were attending the weekly Malayalam and Tamil Mass, they could not fully participate in the prayers due to the language barrier. Following this, they requested for a Hindi Mass. We shared their request with the basilica rector Fr. Michael Valayinjiyil, who gave a positive response,' says Fr. Christhudas, assistant vicar of Ave Maria Church Devikulam. Increase in participants 'Initially, the Hindi Mass will take place at the Mount Carmel Basilica on the last Sunday of every month. If there is an increase in participants, the Mass will be held every Sunday,' he says. 'Over the years, Masses were held in many languages in the churches in Munnar, including in Tamil, Malayalam, and English. But, a Hindi Mass is first here. Through a Mass in their own language, we hope the faithful can fulfil their spiritual needs in a new place,' says Fr. Christhudas. Meanwhile, the church authorities are continuing their efforts to track Catholic migrant workers in Munnar. Mostly, Catholic workers from Jharkhand are working in tea plantations including Lakshmi, Kadalar, Kallar, Rajamala, Vaguvarai, Thenmala, Thalayar and Chenduvara here. Nearly 100 Christian families are working in various tea plantations in Munnar, says the Church. Long-pending demand Already, a large number of migrant workers are attending the Mass in the Mount Carmel Basilica every Sunday, says Richard Joseph, the church's sexton. 'The Hindi Mass was a long-pending demand of the migrant workers,' says Mr. Joseph. Fr. Christhudas, who had worked in north India for many years, led the Hindi Mass on Sunday. After the Mass, Bishop of Vijayapuram Mar Sebastian Thekkethecheril blessed the faithful and interacted with the workers. Mount Carmel Basilica, the first Catholic church in the high ranges, was established by Spanish missionary Fr. Alfonse Maria De Los Angles for plantation workers, mostly from Tamil Nadu, in 1890.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
A dozen special textbooks await hearing impaired students in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 'Pada pada pada pada paravakal paari...' (The birds flew with a fluttering sound). This is how the very first chapter of the revised Class I Malayalam textbook of state syllabus schools begins. But how will a teacher convey it effectively to a student who is hearing impaired? These difficulties have necessitated the introduction of special textbooks and workbooks for hearing impaired students up to Class IV. A dozen such books, designed by the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) after consultation with experts and numerous workshops with teachers, are now ready for distribution. There are nearly 800 hearing impaired students in Classes I to IV in 32 special schools across the state. However, designing special textbooks for them is a tough task due to the varying degrees of hearing impairment. While some have minor hearing disabilities there are others who cannot hear at all, posing a challenge in bringing out textbooks that cater to all of them. 'While the normal Class I textbooks introduce students to various senses, a hearing impaired student has limitations in understanding them. Also, their vocabulary is very limited. We have focused more on pictorial and visual elements in the special textbooks that are also supported by workbooks,' said Anil Kumar A K, Research Officer (Special Education), SCERT. As opposed to normal textbooks that require four to five workshops, special textbooks have been brought out after holding up to 15 workshops with subject experts and teachers. Work on the special textbooks for Class IV will begin this year in tune with the revised textbooks for general schools.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Jagannath Rath Yatra held with devotion & tradition
Ludhiana: Not caring about the scorching heat and humid weather, people belonging to the Oriya community, who have been staying in the industrial town for over two decades, organised the Jagannath Rath Yatra on Friday. This event followed the pattern of the Yatra, which is organised every year in Puri. The devotees were preparing for this Rath Yatra for the past two months. Barefoot and sweating profusely, the devotees brought Lord Jagannath, Balram, and Subhadra out of the Jagannath Temple in Chander Nagar so that devotees could pay obeisance to their beloved God. Flower petals were showered on the idols by the devotees all around. The road from the temple to the chariot was properly washed with water before bringing the idols. It is a belief among the devotees that Lord Jagannath comes out of the temple for nine days and stays at their 'Massima' house for these many days. People from any religion and community can come and take his blessings for these nine days. The devotees were full of enthusiasm and vibrant with energy to celebrate the day. First, they brought out the Lord Jagannath, Balram, and Subhadra idols from the temple and made them sit on the rath, especially prepared for this day. They followed all the traditions which are followed in the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The devotees were taking blessings from Lord Jagannath while the idol was being brought out of the temple and established on the chariot decorated with flowers. They were dancing and chanting "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna", "Hari Bol Hari Bol", to fill energy among other devotees and nearby residents of the area who were also immersed in the devotion. Before starting the Yatra, the road is cleaned with a broom made of gold, and then it moves towards the designated areas. It started in the afternoon, and the chariot passed through areas like Chander Nagar, Old Court Chowk, Dandi Swami Chowk, Haibowal Chowk, and ended again in Chander Nagar, where the three idols were brought to the Massima house, also called the Gundicha Temple. For the next eight days, devotees will worship the Lord there, and then He will go back to the Jagannath Temple.
