Traffic Boxes by City Traffic Police

Trivandrum: The Trivandrum city police has installed ‘traffic boxes’ at various parts of the city to receive complaints about traffic congestion, mis-behaviour, eve-teasing at public.

The boxes which will be installed at all common places in the city will have a post card addressed to city polic officers. Complaints can be registered along with the address of the complainant and phone number.

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Kerala Film Critics Awards 2011: Gadhama, Mammootty, Kavya wins

The Kerala State Film Critics Association Awards 2011 for the movies released in the year 2010 has been announced.

Gadhama directed by Kamal is the best feature film and Kamal has been selected as the best director.

Mammootty bagged the Best Actor award for the movie Pranchiyettan and the saint where as Kavya Madhavan got the award for the best actress for the movie Gadhama.

Other awards are as follows
Second Best film: Makaramanju - Lenin Rajendran
Supporting Actor: Biju Menon
Supporting Actress: Samvrita Sunil
Best writer: Ranjith (Pranchiyettan)
Popular film: Janakan, Shikkar
Music Director: M Jayachandram (Karayilekkoru Kadal Dooram)
Male Playback singer: Shankar Mahadevan (Holidays)
Female Playback singer: Shreya Ghoshal (Aagathan)
Cinematographer :Madhu Ambat
Special Jury Award: Salim Kumar
Chalachitra Ratnam: KS Sethumadhavan

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Muziris Heritage Project (MHP) Kerala

Muziris Heritage Project (MHP) is the first of its kind in India where a heritage site will be preserved and conserved for sustainable development.

The Muziris Heritage Site (MHS) includes North Paravur in Ernakulam district to that of Kodungalloor in Thrissur district.
It is the largest heritage conservation project in India and the first green project by Kerala. Around 25 Museums will be created as part of the Muziris Heritage project.

The project aims to conserve cultural assets and safeguard them for the present and future generations and to o promote awareness and understanding of the cultural distinctiveness and diversity of Muziris



Muziris, which includes the current Kodungallur region was once a thriving port in the first century BC and was the gateway for various religious faiths like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and others. Cargo vessels from West Asia, Mediterranean and East Africa used to drop anchor at the Port of Muziris. St.Thomas, the apostle of Jesus Christ is believed to have set foot in Kerala through the Muziris port and so did the Islamic missionaries. It is here that India’s first church, Mar Thoma Church and the first mosque, Cheraman Juma Masjid, are located.

Submitted by Godwin AG, with inputs from Kerala Tourism.org

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B. Tech Engineering Lateral Entry Kerala Admissions 2011

Applications are invited to the lateral entry admissions for the B.Tech courses in the year 2011-12 in Government/Self-financed engineering colleges in Kerala.

Applications can be submitted online from March 3 onwards in the websites www.tekerala.org
www.dtekerala.gov.in

Last date for application : March 21, 2011

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Kalyan Silks appoints Prithviraj as brand ambassador, unveils new logo

Kalyan Silks, one of the leading textile showroom chain has unveiled its new brand identity.

The Kalyan Silks brand will now feature Prithviraj as its new brand ambassador and a new logo. The new logo of Kalyan Silks was launched by actor Prithviraj yesterday. The new logo which displays the blend of traditional and modern qualities is based on red and white with the letter 'K' in it. Currently former Miss Universe runner-up Parvathi Omanakuttan is the female model for Kalyan Silks.

Kalyan Silks group currently has textile showrooms at Thrissur, Kochi, Palakkad, Kozhikode. The group plans to open new showrooms at Trivandrum, Kannur, Thiruvalla, and international showrooms at Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore etc.

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Chennai - Trivandrum AC Turanto, Nilambur - Trivandrum Rajyarani link express: New Trains 2011

Trivandrum: Thirteen new trains have been alloted to Kerala in the railway budget of 2011.

The new trains are as follows
Chennai - Trivandrum AC Turanto (2 days a week)
Dribrugar - Trivandrum Vivek Express Train (Weekly)
Mangalore - Howrah Vivek Express via Palakkad (Weekly)
Nilambur - Trivandrum Rajyarani link express (Daily)
Chennai - Madurai - Kanyakumari - Trivandrum - Ernakulam - Chennai Circular Janmabhumi Gaurav Express
Palakkad - Mangalore Intercity Express (Daily)
Ernakulam - Bangalore Express (Weekly)
Vasco - Velankanni Express via Palakkad (weekly)
Bhavnagar - Kochuveli Express via Konkan (Weekly)
Porbandhar - Kochuveli Express via Konkan (Weekly)
Bilaspur - Ernakulam Superfast (Weekly)
Ernakulam - Kollam via Aleppey MEMU Train
Kollam - Nagercoil MEMU

Apart from these new trains many development projects and funds for Rs. 434 Crores has also been alloted.

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Aadhaar UID Kerala & ICFOSS Technopark inauguration

The Unique Identification (UID) project will be launched in Kerala today.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate the project named ‘Aadhaar' at a function to be held at Mascot Hotel here at 10.30 a.m.

Inauguration of the International Centre for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS) at Technopark will also be held.

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ChilliGuard pepper spray priced 299; buy online from Technopark Today

Technopark Today and Security consultancy company Rampart has launched a new pepper spray for self-defence for woman.

ChilliGuard, a self defensing pepper spray which consisit of a strong concentrate of Chilli pepper in an aerosol spray is made available for ladies who are travelling alone, or in need of self defence.

The aerosol spray has a spraying range of 5-7 Ft and when sprayed on the face of the attacker, it puts him out of action for at least 30 minutes.

The pepper spray can is small enough to carry in a purse or pocket and has full cap to avoid accidental spraying.

The spray is also legally allowed to use for self-defense in India too.

The ChilliGuard pepper spray can be brought online from http://www.store.technoparktoday.com/ at a price of Rs. 299

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Kerala University Youth Festival 2011 Attingal Trivandrum

The 40th youth festival of Kerala Unversity was inaugurated at Attingal yesterday. The annual cultural festival of dance and music participated by all affiliated colleges and departments of the University of Kerala will be held from today till 27th of this month at Mamam, Attingal.

115 colleges will participate in this mega event held at Trivandrum. Last year the Youth festival was held at Chertala, Alapuzha which had a participation of 74 colleges only.

Competitons will be held in 63 events and a participation of 2500 students are expected.

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Foodiebash to Create Online Presence for restaurants in Trivandrum

Foodiebash is pleased to announce new opportunities for restaurants in Trivandrum on the occasion of Valentines Day as part of the launch of a complete directory listing restaurants, menus, and reviews to meet the demand of vacationers for quality food in one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kerala.

Foodiebash provide locals of Trivandrum with the opportunity to explore cuisine and tradition. An extensive restaurant list featuring rare cuisines and other sought after selections complements the innovative food to help foodies decide where to dine

Visitors are invited with comments on their favorite hotels. For more information visit http://www.trivandrum.foodiebash.com
About the Foodiebash

Foodiebash is searchable dining guide, a Kerala based company. Launched in August 2010, Foodiebash currently covers Bangalore city. A unique Guide to good restaurants, bars and cafes of southern India.

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Attukal Pongala Recipe/Dishes Sweet Pongal, Therali Appam, Mandapputtu

Pongala is a great occasion to celebrate for Trivandrum and it has been celebrated with great grandeur every year. When each year goes by, the no of women holding pots and logs of wood to celebrate is on a gradual increase. This ‘sabarimala of women’ is a treat for the eyes and mind as our dear ladies cook wonderful aromatic recipes to offer the attukal amma and receive blessings.

Whole city comes with help for the pongala participants which include free distribution of food and other refreshments and of course good security by the government. Even in the hot son these dedicated ladies cook delicious delicacies for their beloved deity and share with the whole city. Its not about preparing an exotic recipe that makes you a good cook; it’s when you share your simple delicacy with everyone that makes you the perfect cook. And yes the food made at the pongala is of great taste as its blessed and shared with everyone.

Some of the mouth watering recipes at the pongala are the sweet pongal, therali appam , payasam and mandaputtu. Its exciting to see when the pot boils over with these sweet dishes. So those who couldn’t attend the pongala this year could enjoy a bit of the occasion even at home and we bring the most celebrated recipes of pongala just for you. Enjoy.


Sweet pongal

Ingredients:
Raw rice : 2 cups
Water for cooking : 4 cups
Jaggery : 1 ½ cup
Grated coconut : 1 cup
Cardamom powder : 1 tsp
Raisins, ghee : as required

Preparation:

Keep the water to boil in pot especially earthen pots for the festive season. When the water boils add washed raw rice and let boil. When the rice is cooked add jaggery and mix well. Also add grated coconut, cardamom powder and raisins roasted in ghee to the pongal and let boil well to make a good consistency.



Therali appam

Ingredients:
Roasted rice flour : 2 cups
Powdered jiggery : 1 ½ cup
Small banana : 3 nos
Grated coconut : ½ cup
Cardamom powder : 1 tsp
Vayana leaf : for wrapping the dough
Coconut leaf sticks : to wrap intact

For the dough:
Mix rice flour and jaggery without forming any lumps. Add smashed bananas , grated coconut and cardamom powder to this and mix well with hands.

For the leaf moulds:
Take the vayana leaf and fold it to make the shape of a cone and press it with cocnut leaf sticks in the form of a paper pin holding it.
Fill the dough in these moulds and steam them for 25- 30 minutes. Remove the leaf mould before serving


Mandapputtu

Ingredients
Rice flour : 2 cups
Green gram flour : 150gm
Jiggery : 1 ½ cup
Grated coconut : ½ cup
Raisins,ghee : as required
Cardomom powder : for taste

Preparation:
Mix the ingredients well with required water to form a dough. Make medium sized balls with the dough and steam them for 20- 25 min.

Submitted by Sithara Issac, Trivandrum

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