Latest news with #Arattu
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Time of India
Expert team recommends measures to protect Shanghumugham Beach from sea erosion
Thiruvananthapuram: An expert team led by M V Ramana Murthy, technical advisor of National Centre for Coastal Research and director of Deep Ocean Mission, visited Shanghumugham Beach on Thursday to submit recommendations to govt for its protection against severe sea erosion. A meeting, chaired by Antony Raju, MLA, was convened later to analyse the steps to be taken to prevent the beach from further erosion. During the meeting, the team requested tourism department to approve and commence construction on the irrigation department's proposal to urgently protect the Shanghumugham Arattu Mandapam using polypropylene geo bags. The meeting thoroughly examined suggestions such as using geo tubes, groynes, sand nourishment and diaphragm walls for protecting the beach. It was assessed that the project should be implemented in a way that protects the coastline, road and tourism facilities, allowing visitors to enjoy the beach without disturbing fishing activities and facilitating the smooth conduct of the Arattu procession from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, while also being environmentally sustainable. The meeting also decided to submit details of the first phase of the project to govt, which involves installing geo tubes at a depth of 6m in the sea, 200m away from the shore, along a 1.5km stretch at Shanghumugham to reduce the impact of large waves and conduct sand nourishment on the shore. After evaluating its progress, if necessary, the plan to implement small groynes in Kannanthura, Vettukad and Kochuveli areas to prevent sea turbulence at Shanghumugham, along with sand nourishment on the shore, will be executed in the second phase. This recommendation will be submitted to the chief minister and to the ministers of public works, tourism, water resources and fisheries. The meeting was also attended by Kerala Coastal Development Corporation managing director Sheikh Pareeth, councillor Seraphin Freddy, major irrigation superintending engineer Bindu, tourism department deputy director Ansar KAS and officials from the public works and district tourism promotion council.
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Thrissur Pooram a celebration of jumbos, too
THRISSUR: All festivals, irrespective of religious differences, serve as a gathering of people. But it is rare for a festival to also become a gathering of animals, elephants in the case of Thrissur Pooram. Kerala's celebrity tuskers — including Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, Ernakulam Sivakumar, Guruvayur Nandhan and Pambady Rajan — are all set to participate in the pooram this year, attracting jumbo fans to the festival ground. Every year, close to 100 captive elephants of Kerala participate in the rituals associated with the Thrissur Pooram, making it the only opportunity for festival enthusiasts to see and click photographs of such a large number of jumbos. The preparations for jumbos to participate in the annual festival begins early as fitness is of utmost importance. Ernakulam Sivakumar, owned by the Cochin Devaswom Board, will carry the idol of Neythalakavu Bhagavathy, heralding the pooram, at 11am on Monday. When Neythalakavu Bhagavathy opens the Thekke Gopura nada (south gate), the 36-hour pooram ceremonies are kickstarted. On the day of Thrissur Pooram on May 6, Thechikottukavu Ramachandran will carry the idol of Chembukkavu Bhagavathy for the ghataka pooram. Thiruvambady Chandrasekharan will carry the idol of Thiruvambady Bhagavathy for the major pooram rituals including Madathil Varavu and Kudamattom. Guruvayur Nandhan will carry the idol of Paramekkavu Bhagavathy for Elanjithara Melam and Kudamattom. Paramekkavu Kasinathan will also carry the idol of Bhagavathy for other rituals including Arattu. Other prominent jumbos set to participate include Kuttankulangara Arjunan, Puthupally Arjunan, Pallat Brahmadathan, Koodalmanickyam Megharjunan, Bastin Vinayasundar, Thiruvazhapilly Mahadevan, and Thadathavila Rajasekharan.
