Cruel way of Worship

It is shameful to hear that about 5000 goats were slaughtered on friday as part of a temple festival at Poosariyur in Tamilnadu State. The priests, deevotees, and childless women were consumed the blood to invoke the blessings of the deity.   

In the morning devotees started gathering with baby goats and they were sacrificed at the temple altar and the priests drunk the blood of a few animals and handed over rest to the devotees. The meat was distributed free of cost to all on the belief that eating meat will protect them from cronic diseases. 

This type of cruel worship may be happening in other areas of various states without came to light. I didn't hear in my life about this type of cruel worship. This is happening due to the lack of proper education.

It is seriously be noted that this type of cruel activities are happening in a temple premises and the priest is also a part of this cruel activity. In Kerala, Temple and its premises should be maintained in a good manner and there are some limitation that people to be observed while entering in a temple and its premises.  

Last month, in Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, a hartal was announced in connection with the disputes between devotees and some people about the killing of a cow in a temple premises. If this incident is happening in any part of Kerala, it would definitely become a national issue.
The serious thing is to be noted that there is no objection is seen from any section of the people/authorities about the killing of about 5000 goats as part of a temple festival, including Menaka Gandhi who always protests against this type of cruel activities against animals. It is really shameful. 
In my opinion the authorities should immediately impose a ban  on the killing of animals as part of temple festival or any other means of beliefs and to take necessary steps to educate people in the locality about this cruel way of worship.
Hope this will happening in future, if authorities should seriously think about this cruelty against poor animals.  

Sachin's Rajya Sabha Entry

It is happy to hear that Sachin Remesh Tendulkar has been nominated to the Rajyasabha. But it is the first time that a person from the active sports is being nominated to the Parliament. The nomination may be seen as a honour to this sportsperson on the basis of his great achievement in Cricket. But what extent Sachin can contribute to his new assignment. There is a presedence that persons from other sections like Latha Mankeshkar had been nominated to Rajya Sabha earlier, but she couldn't attend the session. Sachin is now be an integral part of our Indian Team and now he is playing in the Indian Premier League also. Being a person who is active in cricket, how can he attend the Rajya Sabha session. If he can't be able to attend the session, there is no meaning about his nomination. If the nomination came after his retiremement, there is no question.
Hope Sachin can attend the Rajya Sabha Session and he can perform well in his new assignement from a place where politicians have great command.
Wish all good wishes to Sachin. 

Goodness of Kovakkai

Kovakkai (Ivy Gourd) is having some medicinal value and hence used traditionally to control fever, asthma, bronchitis and jaundice. It also helps to regulate the blood sugar levels. Kovakkai is rich in Vitamin C, which helps to strengthen bones. The other vitamines B1 and B2 and traces of VitaminA in the Kovakkai are vital for the human body and helps to strengthen our immune system.

In our home, Kovakkai can be made available in every day, if we planted a small stem of the plant. We will get several gourds from one plant and hence it is available everyday. But we will have to provide sufficient facility to spread the branches of the plant. If we planted near a tree, the plant can be easily spread over the branches of the tree . But we will have to collect the gourds from the tree branches when it requires for making a poriyal or other special items which can be prepared with Kovakkai.

It is a simple plant which gives us several gourds having more vitamin contents. In our home Kovakkai is a regular part of our lunch. My daughter and son likes it very much. 

Considering the medicinal value of the Kovakkai, it is adviced to plant at least one small stem in our premises which will help us to strenthen our immune system.  

Here are some pictures of Kovakkai

Akshaya Tritiya

Akshaya Tritiya, the festival of prosperity and good fortunes, which is being celebrated on 23rd and 24th April 2012. People faith that all good happenings are part of this most auspicious days of the Vedic Calender. 

Malayalees are always see that the gold is a precious one in any of the occassions and hence they believe that it is better to puchase gold on the day of Akshaya Tritiya days. By exploiting this faith of people, now jewellery owners are giving advertisements in the visual written media which ultimately rise the jewellery business and thereby increase in the price of gold in these days. 

Earlier, people were not considered that the gold is a better part of their investment. But due to the rising price of the gold, now it becoms part of thier investment in the form of gold fund or in the form of muthual fund etc. 

It is interesting to see that now some banks are also offering various schemes for the purchase of gold as part of the Akshaya Tritiya. 

Finally, the main focuss now only to consentrate to the gold business on the days of Akshaya
Tritiya, in every corner, by exploiting the faith of the people. 

Tree House in Madikeri

It is interesting to read a news which appeared in Times of India daily on 22nd April 2012 regarding peoples beloging to Jenu Kuruba tribe in Banavara village have made trees their home and living this way for the past 65 years. It is also very interesting to know that these people used to vote in the elections on the basis of the liquor offered by the politicians.
It is shameful to note that the changing Governments, local administration, and the authorities/politicians have failed to provide basic facilities to these people which results their living condition unchanged for the past 65 years. It is to be noted that this place is situated nearly 250KM from the IT hub, Bangalore.
At the time of elections, politicians want votes of these people and they are giving liquor instead of their votes. Hence the political parties are aware of the condition of this section of people. It is a serious lapse from the part of concerned authorities. It is not possible for us even to think about the stay in a wooden home which is about 50-60 feet high.
As result of the news, the authorities may be forced to do something to these people. We may be proud for the facilities which we are enjoying now while this type of people living in in a wooden tree house.
I wish to thank Mr.Rajendran, reporter of Times of India for highlighting this news to the public.

Container Freight Station and ICTT

Container Freight Station is set up with a facility for the transaction of cargo for import and export. It plays an important role in this trade. 

In a container Freight Station there are Export Warehouses, Import Warehouses, Public Bonded Warehouses, Container Yard for handling and storage of containers etc. Fully paved yard is to be needed for the free movement of trucks, Fork Lifts and Reach Stackers carrying containers etc. Empty Container maintenance works and washing the container also available in a subsidiary unit of CFS. 

After the commissioning of  Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal, there are much scope for container freight station in this area. At present there are only few container freight stations are functioning and construction works of some other CFSs are in progress. Due to the dredging related problems and Cabotash Rule, Vallarpadam ICTT has not become fully operational. At present mother ships are not coming to ICTT due to the above problems. If the Central Government can give some relief on the Cabotash rule, the container business through ICTT Vallarpadam will be going high. 

The importance of Container Freight Stations will be crucial when the container movement is increasing. This is the reason several institutions are now trying to start CFSs in this area.   

The investment for setting up a CFS will be more than 100 crore, when considering the land cost of this area. Nearly 20-25 acres of land is needed for setting up a full fledged container freight station. Equipments like Fork Lift, Reach Stacker, Hand Pallet Trucks, Pallets etc are important part of a Container Freight Station. There is much scope for employment in this field also.

Customs People, Shipping Liners, Importers, Exporters, Customs House Agents are directly of indirectly related to CFS business. The main income of the Government comes by way of collecting duty.      

Following are some pictures of Containers, Reach Stacker etc. 

Palakkadan Nongu

Palm Fruit (Nongu & Pananga) is now become a regular scene in our streets. Most of the Palm Fruits are coming from Palakkad district. Earlier the fruit was sold in Palakkad District only. But now it has become popular among people of other districts also. Most of the people who sell the fruit in Ernakulam/ Tripunithura areas belongs from Palakkad. 

I had purchased the fruit from a road side seller for Rs.20/- and I got only 4 pieces of Nongu, which is available in one fruit (Rs.5 per piece). The taste is almost similar as of tender coconut.  It helps our body keep cool and thereby gets some relief from the rising heat of the sun. 

When I raised doubts about the availability of the same in Ernakulam, the street seller told me that the Palm Fruits are supplying from Palakkad. There are so many people from Palakkad are now selling this fruit in various parts of Ernakulam District.     

Palm Fruits are placed in a road side for sale. 

A street seller removing the Nongu and keeps in the palm leaves, which is placed on the pot. 

When you see the sale of Palm Fruit in road side for sale, stop your vehicle and have the fruit pieces and feel the difference.

Accidental death of an Ex-Service men

Manu Sanker, who is an Ex-Service men aged 40 years, died following a bike accident near Mararikulam in Alappuzha, district. The container lorry which involved in the accident has left away from the place soon after the accident.

The important thing is to be noted in this incident that nearly one hour he was lying in the accident site with a pool of blood. The local people and the passengers passing through the spot have failed to take him to the nearby hospital, soon after the accident. 

The matter was communicated by some body to the Mararikulam Police station, but they didn't respond by saying that the accident spot is not within their limit. In their response the accident happened within the jurisdiction of Mannamcherry Police Station. 

Mr.Sumesh had taken initiative to take him to the General hospital and from there to Medical College hospital. As advised by the doctors, it was decided to shift the patient to a private hospital in Ernakulam District. But the employees of the ambulance "108" had informed them that they have not obtained necessary permission to move the ambulance vehicle to other districts. Finally, they had arranged another ambulance from Thiruvalla and shifted him to the private hospital in Ernakulam District, from where Manu Sankar was died. 

If Manu Sankar gets timely medical aid immediately after the accident, the death could not be happened. This type of attitude from the police and other responsible persons towards a person who had served for our country could have been avoided. 

Now a days, the number of accidents and number of accidental deaths have been increased drastically. 

The people always fearing about the procedures they have to be faced after taking an injured person to a hospital. Hence this type of procedures should be liberalized immediately and to conduct proper awareness campaign about this.   

Police Officials who didn't give timely attention to Manu should be punished and to inquire about the nonavailability of permission to the ambulance driver to move the vehicle to other districts. The authorities should look into the above facts for reducing the accidental death in future.      

Vishukkani and Vishu Kaineettam

Vishu Kani is the most important event of Vishu. Vishu Kani literally means "the first thing to be seen on Vishu day". Vishu Kani is a traditional ritual of arranging several auspicious things to be seen on the Vishu dau in the early morning. Some of the important things which are arranged include an idol of Lord Krishna, Nilavilakku, Kanikonna flowers (Classia fistula), raw rice, golden cacumber, betel leaves, areacaunut, metal mirror, coins and coconut. The custom is that every member of the family has to wake up at dawn and go the puja room or the place where Vishukkani is arranged and open the eyes and see the Vishu Kani as the first sight for a better year ahead. 

We have celebrated the Vishu at Thakazhy, my native place, along with our family. All the family members were present on the Vishu day and seen the Vishu Kani which was arranged in our pooja room. Children were enjoyed this event with fire crackers. On the day of Vishu they got vishu kaineettam from the elder members of our family.

 Vishu Kaineettam is a ritual of giving money (earlier it was gold and silver coins) by elder members of the family to children, tenants and servants.

Beauty of GAVI

There are so many tourist spots in Kerala. But I was not aware of a place in the name of  "GAVI" which is a small beautiful tourist spot, in Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. But after watching the recently released malayalam film "Ordinary" alongwith my family, on last Sunday, I got a chance to watch the beauty of this place from the screen.

Now on the basis of  the information from this film,  Gavi has become a major attraction of Malayali tourists, across the country. The film, Ordinary,which has captured  the essence of Gavi's beautiful landscape, has conveyed a message to the people to visit this beautiful place and to enjoy the beauty of this place.

I have visited Munnar, twice, alongwith my family and enjoyed the beauty of that place. Now I am planning to visit GAVI, during this vacation.

Following pictures shows the beauty of this place.

After watching this picture, I am sure that you will definitely take a decision to visit Gavi, with your family and enjoy the beauty of this small tourist spot in our State.

Imported X-ray/Scan machines posing Health hazards

I am writing this blog on the basis of a news which I got about the serious health hazards due to the usage of imported X-ray machines having expired tubes.

People who go in for a CT scan or X-ray at hospitals and diagnostic centres are at serious radiation risk as most medical institutions in Kerala use junk X-ray tubes and CT scan machines discarded by Europe and the US.

People should aware that the Radiation devices, mainly X-ray tubes, whose five year life term has expired, are being imported to Kerala from United States and Europe in large number. Such devices cause serious health hazards.  It is said that the preliminary probes have revealed that the majority of imported devices are banned in the US and Europe due to high radiation risk. Some of the serious health hazards are:-

*Over exposure to X-ray radiation will cause swelling that turns into blisters.

*In the extreme cases, skin grafts or amputation may be required.

*Radiation will cause sterility in both men and women.

*Exposure of pregnant women to radiation will cause congenital deformity to foetus.

*Exposure to X-ray radiation increases risk of cancer.

The above informations were shocking to me. People who got prescriptions for X-ray or Scan from a doctor are not aware that they are going to get another serious health problems in addition to the existing disease, after the completion of X-ray/Scan. 

The hospital owners and owners of various other X-ray/Scan diagnostic institutions are concentrating only to their profits which they are getting by way of providing cheap quality machines imported from European Countries and US. These type of machines may be cheaper in the above countries. This may be the reason for purchasing these cheap quality products. 

Some institutions in Kerala are being offered various types of commissions by way of cash or other gifts to the Doctors who refer the patients to a particular institution. This offers some times may led some doctors to prescribe X-ray/Scan, even there is no actual requirement to the patients. They are not bothered about various health hazards which can be affected to the people due to X-ray/Scan. 

My humble request to all the doctors, not to prescribe X-ray/Scan, if the patient don't need to do the same. The authorities should also ensure to control import of this type of cheap quality machines, people in Kerala will face more health hazards, in future.   

Story of Easter

It is believed that on Good Friday, Jesus Christ was executed by crucifixion. After that his body was taken down from the cross, and buried in a cave. The tomb was guarded and an enormous stone was put over the entrance, so that no one could steal the body. On the following sunday, some women visited the grave and found that the stone had been moved, and that the tomb was empty. Jesus himself was seen that day, and for days afterwards by many people. His followers realised that God had raised Jesus from the dead.

Easter is the important Christian festival, and celebrated with great joy. Churches are filled with flowers, and there are some special hymns and songs for the occasion.

The other important this is to be noted that the date of Easter changes each year, and several other Christian festivals fix their dates by reference to Easter.

Increasing road accidents in Kerala

As per the recent study conducted by the Kerala Police, there were 698 deaths in connection with various accidents in different parts of Kerala, during January and February 2012. Hence more than 10 accidental deaths happened in a single day. The important thing is to be noted that, out of the 698 deaths, 309 were two wheeler riders and 241 were pedestrians.  

The above report should be analysed seriously by the concerned authorities and try to find out the exact cause of the accidents.

In my opinion, most of the accidents are being happened due to the consumption of liquor by the drivers. Now, due to the recent court order and the steps taken by the Police to check the drivers whether they consumed liquor while driving,  the number of accidents may be reduced at least in Ernakulam District, now. When compared to other districts, police authorities are taking more care for checking the vehicles in Ernakulam District. Hence if the authorities should take necessary steps to conduct state wide awareness campaigns and to take necessary steps to check the vehicles throughly and to punish the drivers who violates traffic rules, the road accidents can be reduced, to a certain extent, in future.    

The Government should also ensure the quality of the roads and the maintenance, in the state.

Cyber Fraud

I am writing this after reading a news with regard to a cyber fraud  case which involed in to the missing of cash Rs.11.14 lakh from a bank account of Dr.Shabeer Khan, who works at the Lakeshore Hospital, in Ernakulam, on March 30.

Three level of procedures are carried out to complete an online transaction. The fraudster first managed to access the unique customer ID and Password of Dr.Shabeer Khan. He then took a duplicate sim card in the name of Dr.Shabeer to get the pin number that will be sent by the bank to transfer the money from the account. After completing the first two steps, the bank sends the pin number as SMS to the registered mobile number of the account. This pin is required to complete the online transaction.  As per the preliminary probe, it was revealed that the money has been transferred to 20 various bank accounts spread across the branches of three private sector banks in different states.  

The important thing is to be noted in this case is the fraudster managed to get a duplicate sim to get the pin number. While issuing the duplicate sim card, the telecom operator did not verify the difference in the signature. This is a serious offence on the part of a telecom operator.

The enquiry may reveal the whereabouts of the account holders in which the amount was transferred and the police authorities may be managed to catch and punish the main person behind the incident.

The concerned employee of the telecom department who had issued the duplicate sim, with out verifying the signature, also should be punished. For preventing this type of fraud activities in the online banking sector, the present system should be strngthened. Then only people can avail online banking facility without any fear, in future.  

How we use water for our daily use

The National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) confirmed the dangerous percentage of Endosulfan, Benzene Hexachloride (BHC) and DDT in morethan 60 samples of water collected from the 64 spots of Periyar. The analysis conducted by the NIIST based on a High Court directive to study samples. The report filed by the NIIST also said that the water from Periyar is not suitable for use without treatment given the presence of pesticides.

The water from the Periyar is now using for drinking purposes by the majority of people in Ernakulam District. The water is said to be supplied to the people after conducting various purification methods. But there were several allegations about the supply of drinking water to various flats without conducting proper pruification. The percentage of chlorine in the drinking water is also high. 

In our home when we boil the water we feel a separate taste which is happened due to the high percentage of chlorine. We can't be able to drink the boiled water due to the bad taste.Hence we are using the water after purifying with the help of a water purifier.

The recent report of the NIIST revealed that the water is having dangerous percentage of Endosulfan, BHC and DDT which led to a feel that the people may affect various diseases by way of using the water from Periyar. By hearing the name of Endosulfan itself, our mind may immediately be led to various suffering of people in Kasargod District due to the spraying of this chemical in the cashew plantations and its subsequent ban. 

Hair falling and hair whitening in the age group of 25-38 may be due the long usage of  polluted periyar water, which is being supplied to our home. The authoritites should give more attention to inspect all the water treatment plants in Ernakulam District and to confirm whether these plants are taking more care for treating the water before supplying the water to the public.  

If well water is available in our compound, it is better use the water from the well for our daily use.

My daughter's memories in AAAM Chinmaya Vidyalaya

My daughter SRUTHI.S has recently completed her UKG in Ambady Ammu Amma Memorial Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Poonithura. In this school there are only LKG and UKG classes, in which 90 students in UKG and LKG are studying. The management and teachers in the school were concentrated each and every childrens activities and tried their level best to improve childrens abilities. They have taken more care about the students various activities/skills and conducted various stage programmes in school campus.

After completion of UKG, a convocation ceremony was conducted by the management on 24th March. Certificates were distributed to the students during this ceremony. The convocation ceremony was a big success with the full participation of parents. The teachers and management staff were expressed their feelings when the children moving out from the scool. Students and the parents left the scool premises with a lot of good memories.

From 1st standard to 4th they are going to study in the Junior chinmaya School, at Layam Road, and from 5th standard onwards they are going to study at Senior School, at Kannankulangara.

Following are some photos of various programmes conducted in school campus in which my daughter was participated.