Metromart October 2012

��

��

��

��

��

��

� � ��

The lush green valleys, emerald backwa-

ters, exotic wildlife and the colours of

the enchanting art forms of Kerala has

made it one of the most desired tourist

destination in Asia.

To promote God’s Own Country as

Asia’s new age destination and India’s

most popular tourism brand, KTM 2012,

the largest tourism event in the sub-

continent, brings together the business

fraternity and entrepreneurs behind the

tourism products and services of Kerala

Kerala the most desiredTourist DestinationThe seventh edition of Kerala Travel Mart brings together the business fraternity and entrepreneurs behind the tourism products and services of Kerala.

Anagha P

COVE

R FE

ATU

RE

10 October 2012TH I RUVANANTHAPURAM mart Visit: http://www.gomart.co.in

in seventh edition which would be held

at Le Meridien Convention Centre, Kochi

from September 27 to 30.

In its seventh year, KTM expects to host

close to 900 delegates from 50 coun-

tries free of cost. This largest gathering

is designed, planned and scheduled to

facilitate meetings involving Buyers,

Sellers, Media, Government Agencies

and others. Besides Seminars, Press

meets, Post-Mart FAM Tours and cul-

tural evenings, it gives the participant a

first-hand experience of the destination.

“KTM is one of its kinds with a unique

public-private partnership. Through this

biennial event it would present Kerala

– God’s Own Country to the world to

promote it as Asia’s new age destina-

tion,” said N Prashanth IAS, MD, KTDC.

According to the officials, KTM 2012 will

be one of the biggest tourism event,

as the number of domestic buyers who

have registered has doubled from the

“We are expecting buyers from almost 50 countries, a majority of them from Germany. The largest num-ber of domestic buyers would be from Gujarat, Delhi and Mumbai”

Riaz Ahmed General Convener and President KTM Society 11October 2012martTH I RUVANANTHAPURAM

response recorded at the last KTM.

“We are very much excited. KTM is

becoming bigger and bigger. For KTM

2012 we have a rough budget of more

than Rs. 15 crore. Hotels in and around

Kochi have set aside 800 rooms, free

of cost, to accommodate the guests.

We are also having a post-mart tour for

all interested buyers to the properties

they wish to see,” said Riaz Ahmed,

president, KTM.

The KTM Society has 599 members

in the state with profiles that include

airlines, ayurveda centres, farm-stay,

home-stay, hotels, specialty hospital,

resorts, travel agents, adventure tour

operators and other specialized travel

packages.

At KTM 2012, there will be 108 tables,

296 modules and 12 houseboat parking

bays.

KTM, launched in 2000 has been con-

ducting this grand event for the last

twelve years with the participation of

Buyers from around 50 countries and

other parts of India. Each Mart sees

about 1000 selected Buyers who come

into contact with around 300 Sellers.

Mr. A.P. Anil KumarChief Patron- KTMH’ble Minister for Tourism

The Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), a biennial expo to promote Brand Kerala, will be held at Le Meridien Convention Centre, Ernakulam from September 27 to 30. In its seventh year, KTM expects to host close to 900 delegates from 50 countries free of cost

“In KTM international buyers, sell-ers, and domestic travel agents will participate. We aspire to provide them a fabulous experience,”

E M Najeeb

Vice Chairman, KTM.


Kerala is currently ranked amongst the

top 10 destinations in the world. What

makes Kerala such a popular destina-

tion?

Kerala evokes a lot of excitement in the

minds of people around the globe. The

greenery, backwaters, sandy beaches,

wilderness and the friendly nature of

Keralites are the elements that appeals

tourists.

Trivandrum is one among the most at-

tractive spot in Kerala. Being the capital

city, it has a lot to offer the visitors. It

is a very ancient city where every nook

“Kerala will emerge soon as the most sought after travel destination in the world.”As the state gears up to host Kerala Travel Mart for the seventh time, Metro Mart catches up with N Prashanth IAS, Managing Director of KTDC who is also the Vice Chairman of KTM, to find out what new developments are taking place in God’s Own Country.

Anagha P

ON

FA

CE


and corner of it has some history to say.

There are temples, palaces, beaches and

hills, which attracts all kinds of travelers.

What are the initiatives planned by

KTDC to get more visitors to Trivan-

drum in the coming year?

We have hotels and guest houses in all

the popular spots of the city. In Pon-

mudi, we have Golden Peak, Mascot in

the heart of the city, Chaithram near the

Railway station are some of them.

Right now all our ventures are under

renovation. We are upgrading our exist-

ing facilities. We wish to offer a thrilling

experience to every guest who checks

N Prashanth IASManaging Director, KTDC

October 2012 15TH I RUVANANTHAPURAM mart

in to KTDC projects.

The introduction of

seaplane would be the

most amazing initiative

that we could offer for

our clients. With the

support of the govern-

ment we would be able

to launch this project

soon. Providing a scenic

seaplane tour would

entice tourists.

What are the new

projects planned by KTDC to excite

travelers?

We are opening a new restaurant in

Mascot - ‘Coffee Gate’ with unique vari-

eties of new generation snack foods like

burger and kebabs. I am sure this would

be better than most of the coffee shops

in the city.

We have collaborated with Central

Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT),

Kochi and they have developed 25

varieties of ‘Fish Maid’ products under

the project, “Responsible Harvesting

and Utilisation of Selected Small Pelag-

ics and Fresh water fishes.” This will be

offered to the food lovers.

KTDC has also decided to have new

projects in Muzhappilangad, Alappu-

zha, Bakel, Kozhikode, Wayanad and

Chennai.

We always want to be the first one who

takes first steps to offer better facilities

for the tourists. Hence, we now focus

those areas which are not so popular

but worth visiting.

The State Government has made exten-

sive plan for KTM-2012. How does this

benefit Kerala?

A power-packed event, KTM 2012 will

have buyer-seller interactive sessions,

panel discussions, knowledge-sharing

sessions, networking dinners and FAM

trips. By adopting the Public Private

Partnership (PPP) model we would

boost Kerala tourism. Through KTM

2012 the tourism sector in Kerala will

showcase its services to the global

travel industry. Kerala, the God’s own

country, our product will be presented

to the world. KTM 2012 will promote

Kerala as Asia’s new age destination and

India’s most popular tourism brand.


AmazingThiruvananthapuram

COVE

R ST

ORY

The sandy beaches, long stretches of

palm fringed shorelines, breezy back-

waters, historic monuments and rich

cultural heritage embraces sightseers

across the world to Trivandrum. The city

also holds the pride of the culture and

heritage of Kerala.

Here one can find lavish malls in the bus-

tle of the town which would entertain


the youth and also ancient landmarks

that narrates the past. Home to fasci-

nating beaches and grandiose palaces,

there are many tourist destinations in

Trivandrum that make a tour of the city

a fascinating experience.

Surrounded by the Arabian Sea in the

west and the state of Tamil Nadu in the

east and the Western Ghats, the exotic

beauty of Trivandrum makes it an ideal

destination for nature lovers and adven-

ture buffs alike.

For all the globetrotters who land in this

amazing city, Metro Mart provides you a

brief details about the must see tourist

destinations in Trivandrum which would

make a tour of the city a fascinating

experience.

The capital city of God’s Own Country – Thiruvanan-thapuram, the southernmost district of Kerala carries a wealth of history and an abundance of tourism and recreation activities.

Anagha P

October 2012 19TH I RUVANANTHAPURAM mart

Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple

This enchanting temple is one among

the 108 sacred Vishnu shrines in India,

the presiding deity in here is Lord Vishnu

reclining on Anantha the serpent. The

pure Dravidian style of architecture,

stone carvings and mural painting of the

temple attracts tourists of all categories

to the temple.

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum

The palace was built by Maharaja Swathi

Thirunal Balarama Varma - the King of

Travancore, who was a great poet, musi-

cian, social reformer and statesman.

This rare specimen of workmanship in

the traditional Travancore style of archi-

tecture also has exquisite wood carv-

ings. The museum hosts a rare collection

of mannequins, paintings, mirrors,

chandeliers, furniture and other items.

The royal thrones in ivory and Bohemian

Crystal makes for few of the most at-

tractive pieces of art in the museum.

Museum and Zoo

An architectural splendour located in

the heart of the city in the midst of

greenery. The Napier Museum, the

Natural History Museum, the Reptile

House and the Shri Chitra Art Gallery are

all within the Zoo complex amidst a well

laid-out garden and park. There is a lake

and a boat club jointly operated by the

Department of Museums and Zoos and

the District Tourism Promotion Council.

The Museum offer glimpses of Kerala’s

rich cultural heritage. The museum

showcases an excellent collection of

bronzes, historic ornaments, ivory carv-

ings and chariots, and life-size figurines

of the Kathakali dancers in full costume.

The zoo offers a rare opportunity for

the visitors to experience an unparal-

leled, picturesque and panoramic sylvan

landscape with a wide range of animal

collections. The zoo has 75 different spe-

cies of animals not only from India but

also from abroad.

The Sree Chithra Art Gallery located

near the Napier Museum displays paint-

ings of Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlova and

Nicholas Roerich and exquisite works

Must See Spots


from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore

schools of Art In India.

The Science & Technology Museum:

One of the most informative and edu-

cating spot in the city. Located about

100m west of the Mascot Hotel, the

Museum is open from 10am to 5pm daily

and entry is Rs.2.

Priyadarshini Planetarium

The 40 minutes special shows on

universe screened at the Planetarium

amuses the visitors. The planetarium

also offers a view of night sky at any

given time and of any desired place in

past and in future within a time span

of 12500 years. With a seating capacity

of 184 people, the museum is an equal

favorite of children, adults and scholars

of cosmology.

Chacha Nehru Children’s Museum

The children’s museum, at Thycaud, has

been named after the first prime minis-

ter of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.

The museum displays dolls, masks and

paintings.

Padmanabhapuram Palace

The palace which was once the seat of

the rulers of Travancore is now a part

of the Western coast of Tamil Nadu.

Located in 65km south-east of Thiruva-

nanthapuram, this historical monument

reminds us of Kerala’s rich heritage and

history.

Koyikkal Palace:

It is one of the most ancient palaces and

features traditional Kerala architectural

style with slanting roofs and a court-

yard within. This palace also has two

museums called the Folklore museum

and the Numismatics museum. The

Folklore museum houses a wide range

of musical instruments and models of

TH I RUVANANTHAPURAM mart October 2012 21

folk arts and the Numismatics museum

has an astonishing set of ancient coins

gathered from different places.

Kovalam Beach

The thick coconut groves and the silver

splashes from the emerald sea make

Kovalam an exotic location to relax.

This globally popular beach is just 16

kms away from the city. The light house

beach, Hawah Beach and the Samudra

beach are three parts of the famous

Kovalam beach. The boundless blue

waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of

white sands washed away by the surf at

the feet of the stalwart palms and the

rocky promontories, makes this beach

paradise.

Shanghumugham Beach

The ideal ocean spray of Kerala, the

Shanghumugham Beach is very near to

the International Airport and is easily

accessible from the Kovalam Beach,

Veli Tourist Village and Akkulam Tourist

Village. The vast stretch of white sand

and the serene atmosphere, away from

the hustle bustle of the city, provide all

the ingredients for relaxation and for

spending an ideal evening. The sculp-

ture of Jalakanyaka - Mermaid by Kanayi

Kunhiraman is an added attraction.

Azhimala Beach

The silent sandy beach residing near to

Kovalam is around 20 km from Trivan-

drum city. Azhimala is known for the

Ayurvedic Resorts. The Azhimala Devi

temple besides the beach is a fascinat-

ing view.

Vizhinjam

About 2 km south of Kovalam, Vizhinjam

is a fishing harbour, with a light house.


The Portuguese have built a church in

Vizhinjam near to the sea shore, which

is still functional and is referred as the

Old Vizhinjam Church. It is located in the

Vizhinjam fishing harbour area.

Veli Tourist village

The tourist village set on the outskirts

of Trivandrum by the side of the placid

waters of Veli lake attracts the tourists.

The boat club provides facilities for

pedal-boating, row boating, swimming

and get together.

Varkala

Varkala is a pilgrim centre and a tourist

attraction that lies 41 km north of Trivan-

drum city by rail and 51 km by road. The

Samadhi of Sree Narayana Guru, the

great social reformer and philosopher,

attracts devotees in thousands. The

cliffs and mineral water springs at the

Papanasam beach are tourist attrac-

tions.

Thiruvallam

En route to Kovalam, this serene back-

water stretch is famous for its Canoe

Ride. There is an ancient temple here

on the banks of the Karamana River,

which is dedicated to the Trimurthis of

the Hindu pantheon. A shrine of Para-

surama, built entirely of granite is found

in this temple.

Akkulam

One of the most popular picnic spot

in the city, Akkulam is developed on

the banks of Akkulam Lake, which is

October 2012 23martTH I RUVANANTHAPURAM

an extension of the Veli Lake. The calm

and serene atmosphere and its natural

beauty are a fascination for tourists.

The Boat Club, which started function-

ing in 1989, now operates speed, safari,

pedal and row boats from Akkulam to

Veli Tourist Village. A traditional style

Kettuvallam(house boat) is available

for overnight stay. The swimming pool

at Akkulam is equipped with glider and

other playing facilities. The Children’s

Park is a unique amusement spot and

has several new rides that have been

included recently.

Meenmutti and Kombaikani Waterfalls

The global tourists would love to visit

the two magnificent waterfalls on the

upper reaches of the Neyyar reservoir.

A trek of two kilometers, through dense

forests, would take one to Meenmutty

Falls, and a further two km, to the Kom-

baikani waterfalls.

Neyyar Dam

Hills, valleys and the transparent water

bodies give a spectacular experience for

the nature lovers at Neyyar Dam. The

Dam is located across the Neyyar river

flowing south of Thiruvananthapuram.

Lion Safari Park, Crocodile Rearing

Centre, boating and mountaineering fa-

cilities would thrill the travelers. Neyyar

dam has now become a popular picnic

spot which is just 32 kms away from the

city. The panoramic view of the moun-

tains and the lake would be a delightful

visual which one can cherish forever.

Aruvikkara Dam

This picturesque picnic spot is on the

banks of the Karamana River. Aruvik-

kara Reservoir is known for its scenic

beauty which provides the tourists a

relaxing and cooling ambience just 16

kms away from the heart of the city.

Peppara

Peppara located 50 kms away from

the city is emerging as a big attraction

to wildlife enthusiasts and ornitholo-

gists. It was established in 1938 over an

area of 53 km² on the Western Ghats.

Elephants, sambars, leopards, lion-tailed

October 201224 martTH I RUVANANTHAPURAM

Visit: http://www.gomart.co.in

macaques and cormorants are com-

monly seen here.

Ponmudi

The foggy hills in Ponmudi would spread

a cool breeze to beat the scorching heat

of the city. As the hills come awake you

can begin a pleasurable exploration

of the wooded paths. The visitors can

enjoy trekking, bird watching and the

charming deer park.

Poovar

Poovar, located 38 km from Trivandrum

has been named as one of the ‘50 Must

Visit’ places in India by the ‘National

Geographic Traveller’. This exotic island

is now a high-in-demand tourist destina-

tion of India. Poovar is admired for its

estuaries, lakes, rivers and beaches

overflowing with the pristine beauty of

nature.

Santhigiri Ashram

Santhigiri Ashram situated amidst of syl-

van surroundings at Pothencode, 21 kms

away from Thiruvananthapuram, the

capital city of Kerala. Santhigiri Ashram,

founded by Navajyothisree Karunakara

Guru is well known for its spirituality

beyond Religion and

traditional Indian

Medical treatment

systems. White

Lotus which has

been built as the

sacred monument

for Karunakara Guru

is a superb place to

visit.

Agastyakoodam

It is one of the highest peaks in the

Western Ghat at a height of more

than 1800 meters in the shape of a

sharp cone. The place is noted for its

abundant ayurvedic herbs and medicinal

26 October 2012 martTH I RUVANANTHAPURAM

Visit: http://www.gomart.co.in

plants. Another major attraction of this

magnificent peak is the Neelakurinji,

a flower which blooms only once in

twelve years. Located at the eastern

side of Trivandrum, this peak is an ideal

place for trekking and commands won-

derful vistas of the surroundings.

Balaramapuram

Balaramapuram is famous for its hand-

spun cloth. Weaving is a cottage indus-

try here with cooperative activity. It is 13

km south of the city towards Kanyaku-

mari on National Highway 47.

Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari is located in the tip of

India, where the three seas, Bay of

Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean

get united. It is aka Cape Comorin and

is located at a distance of 87 km from

Trivandrum. Lakhs of tourists, round the

year are lured by the serene beauty of

this place and the spectacles of sunrise

and sunset. Though sunrise can be

viewed throughout the year, sunset is

visible only from October 15 to March 15

from this southernmost tip. Amidst the

sea there are two rocks known as ‘twin

rocks’ both contributing to the rich

Indian heritage with the monuments of

Swamy Vivekananda and Saint Thiruval-

luvar.

Visit, explore and enjoy. Relish the

warmth and uniqueness of the city and

make it a part of your heartbeat. You

will find a distinct travel experience that

is yours alone.

AIR

Thiruvananthapuram international airport is connected by flights from major cities in India and abroad.

RAIL

Thiruvananthapuram is a major railheadcon-necting several important cities and places in India

ROAD

Thiruvananthapuram is connected by good motorable roads to all places in South India.

Thiruvananthapuram is:

708 km from Chennai

253 km from Thekkady

220 km from Kochi

523 km from Thanjavur

469 km from Trichy

360 km from Wayanad

How would you like to travel?

martTH I RUVANANTHAPURAM

October 2012 27

This festival brings large institutions as

well as individual shop owners under one

banner. Heavy discounts and special events

provide an opportunity to indulge the

shopping desires of locals and tourists alike.

The merchant enterprises would have the

chance to promote their products among

local residents and also to connect with

shoppers from across the world.

Apart from being an international tourist

destination, Kerala, is also developing as an

international trading centre. The expected

30 million consumers would provide the

partners and associates of GKSF an unprec-

Upcoming! - The Shopping Carnival of KeralaThe 6th edition of Grand Kerala Shopping Festival, organized by the Gov-ernment of Kerala, would be starting on December 15, 2012, and conclud-ing on January 31, 2013. Right from handicraft manufacturers of Kerala to luxury brand establishments, there would be a huge participation in this shopping festival.

V Viswanath

SHO

PPIN

G


October 201228 Visit: http://www.gomart.co.in

edented visibility and extra mileage for

the brands.

This annual trading festival was first

conducted during December 1, 2007,

to January 15, 2008. The five seasons

of Grand Kerala Shopping Festival that

were conducted until now, witnessed a

heavy inflow of tourists. In each consec-

utive year, the participation of traders

and consumers has increased remark-

ably. During the 46 days of shopping

fiesta, various government departments

coordinate to conduct the festival in a

29October 2012martTH I RUVANANTHAPURAM

professional manner. An official website

and a mobile portal for the event make

it more popular. A number of schemes

are introduced by the government that

would benefit the domestic and tourist

shoppers.

Sri. A.P. Anilkumar, the Tourism Minister

of Kerala, stated that the government

aims to make the shopping festival

beneficial to the tourism industry also.

Efforts are taken to maintain a link

between the trading sector and tourism

sector during the shopping extravagan-

za. The minister viewed that GKSF has

garnered credibility and confidence of

the public. The distinct characteristic of

this shopping festival is that, along with

shopping, the consumers can experi-

ence the natural beauty of Kerala. The

charming tourist destinations in Kerala

could be an additional bonus for the

consumers.

Preparation for this year’s Grand Kerala

Shopping Festival is on full swing. The

government has decided to utilize

Akshaya Centres for registration of trad-

ers. Event management groups provide

necessary professional support for the

shopping festival.

Extensive media coverage and pro-

motional activities are planned. The

estimated retail outlet participation

is about 10,000. Prizes worth over

300 million rupees are expected to be

distributed between consumers and

traders, through daily and weekly draws

and Mega prizes.

The shopping festival also provides a

platform for traditional Kerala handi-

crafts, handloom and curios. GKSF

would provide a boost to trade and

commerce across the state. Community

participation, business interest, and

cultural events, all put together makes

everyone look forward to this ‘Festival

of Festivals’ – The Grand Kerala Shop-

ping Festival.U V Jose

Director, GKSF



“GKSF has emerged as a great shopping

event globally,” said Tourism Minister

A.P. Anil Kumar while releasing the

logo of Grand Kerala Shopping Festival

(GKSF) which will be held from Decem-

ber 15, 2012, to January 31, 2013.

“The result of the previous season is a

proof of the wider public acceptance

of this exotic shopping festival. GKSF

Season 6- targets 10,000 registrations.

There will be marketing and promotion,

IT solution, logistics and trade shows

and exhibitions. The main highlight of

GKSF-6 to be a scintillating shopping extravaganzaThe sixth edition of Grand Kerala Shopping Festival is here to transform Kerala to be an International shopping experience

SHO

PPIN

G



this year will be the thematic exhibitions

like Handicrafts and Handloom fest, Coir

and Coconut fest, Tribal fest and Craft

fest in association with the respective

state and central public sector undertak-

ings,” he added.

To enable online registration for GKSF,

this Government of Kerala initiative

which is into its sixth season, has signed

up with Akshaya to enable online

registration of Merchant Establishments

at Akshaya e-Centres. The MoU was

signed between U.V. Jose, Director of

GKSF and P. Bala Kiran IAS, Director of

Akshaya.

“We are grateful that Akshaya has been

selected as the logistic hub for GKSF,’

said P. Bala Kiran IAS after signing the

MoU.

As per the MoU signed with Akshaya,

GKSF will use the services of over 2,000

Akshaya centres spread across the State

to facilitate online registration. The reg-

istration will be done under the supervi-

sion of the Logistic agency handling the

event. To encourage online registration,

a discount of 5% is being offered by

GKSF to Merchant Establishment who

does their registration online.

Over 100 Akshaya Centres will also be

customised as ‘Logistics Hubs’ to ensure

effective distribution of GKSF merchan-

dise and gift/discount coupons.


October 2012 33

Director of GKSF gave a brief idea on

the highlights of GKSF 6. “With the sup-

port of our Minister we have gathered

enough sponsorship and offers for this

season. By bringing the merchants over

the globe together, GKSF will soon be-

come the grand shopping festival across

the world,” he explained.

U.V. Jose also said that a mega exhibi-

tion will be held at Kochi in association

with partner states and other countries

for 15 days during the Christmas and

New Year period.

“This year there will be a facelift to the

festival by giving it a wider perspective.

Through various promotional activities,

maximum number of national and in-

ternational tourists will be attracted to

the festival and efforts will be made to

promote the state as a commercial hub.

Tourists will have the facility to purchase

local products like coir, cashew, marine

products, spice, handloom and handi-

crafts from the production centres,” he

added.

As part of the festival, prizes of 101 kg

gold, sponsored gifts and GKSF mer-

chandise instead of discount coupons

will be given to the customers. There

will also be ‘scratch and win’ prizes,

sponsored gifts on a daily basis, weekly

draws and a mega draw of one kilogram

gold for one person and 500 gram gold

for two persons.

Automobiles, banks, electronics, FMCG,

hotels, jewellers, spas, supermarkets

and textiles are the major segments

which will participate in the festival.

The inaugural ceremony will be held at

Kozhikode and closing function will be

at Kollam.

Suman Billa IAS, Secretary, Tourism and

Rani George IAS, Director, Kerala Tour-

ism gave felicitations.Rani George IASDirector, Kerala Tourism

Vijayan ThomasChairman, KTDC



The spirit of philanthropy is deeply imbed-

ded in this event. Lectures and seminars on

career guidance, women’s empowerment,

Indian democracy, job fair and youth will be

organized in association with government

departments and other leading institutes.

Ministers, Heads of department, dignitaries,

will attend the different seminar sessions.

To brush up the creative talents of students,

painting contests will also be conducted.

The event will be held at Bhuvi Convention

Centre, Haripad.

Inspired by Late Padmanabha Dasa Sree

Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma, the for-

mer Maharaja of Travancore, Sree Chithra

GRAMOTSAV 2012Since its inception, Sree Chithra International Foundation has been bathing in limelight for its philanthropic activities. Continuing its relentless effort to serve the society, Sree Chithra International Foundation is organizing ‘Gramotsav 2012’ at Haripad, Alappuzha from September 28th to 29th, 2012.

Pooja Jayan

MET

RO E

VEN

T



International Foundation took form

with the intent to endow with selfless

service in socio-cultural arena. While

turning the pages of history, one could

point out that Sree Chithra International

Foundation has been working for uplift-

ment of the poor and downtrodden

people especially women and children

in rural areas. It is involved in Child Care

and education, literacy for illiterates,

Water for poor communities, Health

Care interventions, HIV/AIDS awareness,

Capacity building initiatives, Women

empowerment, Relief at the times of

Natural calamities. Sree Chithra foun-

dations total dedication towards the

damped lives of the poor and destitute

has helped many to rise above their

problems.

Perhaps the most decisive moments in a

students’ life are the times they have to

make up their mind regarding the future

course of action they need to follow for

a better career. Barring a few, most stu-

dents do not have access to information

and guidance that will assist them to

pick out a career best suited for them. In

this world of competition students must

keep abreast of the developments in the

society and sort out opportunities avail-

able to them for standing out in their

field of choice. Keeping this in mind, ca-

reer guidance seminars are arranged to

enable children to take proper decisions

and move forward in the right direction.

The career guidance seminars will be an

eye-opener for students who are on the

threshold of making the vital choice in

choosing a right career.Ramesh Chennithala


For the disabled, mobility is the key to

independence, education, and self-reli-

ance. A person given the gift of mobility

is independent to travel and work. Sree

Chithra International Foundation has

decided to distribute wheelchairs for

disabled people in different areas.

In the twenty-first century, religion

has become an increasingly important

factor in national security. Seminars

are designed to give participants an

opportunity to carefully examine the

nature of religion and national security

at Gramotsav. Seminars on religion and

national security will open up wide vis-

tas of topics on religion including its role

in conflict, terrorism, peace operations,

and development.

Gramotsav has set motivational semi-

nars to empower women. Seminar on

‘Sthree Suraksha’ will discuss various

aspects of women empowerment, legal

rights for women protection and to

safeguard women.

Job fairs present an unparalleled oppor-

tunity for anyone looking for a new job.

They are one of the most effective ways

to land on a new job. Therefore a job

fair is staged by Gramotsav where rural

jobseekers can meet, interact and have

interviews with several top employers

under one roof that serves as a dual ad-

vantage. Various exhibitions will be held

as a part of the event. To soothe your

mind a musical fete by popular playback

singer G. Venugopal is set up.

Sri. Ramesh Chennithala, President of

the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee

(KPCC) and Member of Kerala Legisla-

tive Assembly from Haripad rendered

his guidance and support to make this

event a grand success.

Grand Opening



��

Mix ‘n’ Match Mania is back again!

The boutique has a huge collection of

ready-to-wear kurtis, leggings, dupattas

and churidars – all being sold separately.

Customers can mix and match and

create their own sets according to their

taste and fashion sense. The unique Mix

‘n’ Match Mania will thus allow custom-

ers to explore and create their own

fashion styles.

One of the highlights of the Mix

‘n’Match mania is the huge collection

of dupattas. They are available in every

imaginable colour, texture and size. The

collection ranges from plain to truly

fancy dupattas. There is also an exciting

range of handbags and jewellery to

ensure that you have the perfect acces-

sories with your outfit.

Czarina, the popular boutique, is all set to re-create the fashion storm of last year. Mix-n-Match Mania, a brand new concept that the boutique introduced last year, will be held once again from October 8 to 18.

SHO

PPIN

G



The Mix ‘n’ Match Mania will be a great

shopping experience for college girls

as well as working women as they

need extensive wardrobes. The mix ‘n’

match concept will allow you to have

several new sets of clothes at a minimal

price. This is because you can give your

old clothes a new look by shopping

at Czarina’s Mix ‘n’Match Mania. For

example, you could just get a smart new

kurti from Czarina’s Mix ‘n’Match Mania

and team it up with a legging or churidar

in your wardrobe. Or buy one of the

stunning dupattas and match them with

any kurta and leggings that you already

have to create a brand new outfit. The

Mix ‘n’Match Mania is thus ideal for

those who are on a budget or require a

large number of trendy Indian sets.

The Mix ‘n’ Match Mania is not just

restricted to ready-mades – there are

materials available too. Kurti and churi-

dar materials are sold separately and are

available in several designs.

For those who would like to opt for

more traditional Indian wear, Czarina’s

sari boutique too has a brand new col-

lection with the latest designs.

CzarinaGeneral Hospital Jn

0471 2573795


October 2012 41

Dr. K C Chandrasekharan Nair, Manag-

ing Director, Technopark- TBI has been

selected as the new Secretary General

of ISBA and Dr. Deepanwita Chatopad-

hyaya as the new President.

This secretariat will suggest possible

alternative policies to the National Sci-

ence and Technology Entrepreneurship

Development Board (NSTEDB), Depart-

ment of Science and Technology, to

promote incubation infrastructure and

incubation companies in the country.

“Technopark-TBI has picked up a rapid

pace in the last three years and in this

period more than 70 companies have

come under incubation. The success in

New HQ for ISBA at Technopark- TBI

K.C. Chandrasekharan Nair

The Indian Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Parks (STEPs) and Business Incubators’ Association (ISBA) will open its new headquarters in the Technopark-TBI, Trivandrum.

CITY

BIT

ES

Visit: http://www.gomart.co.inmartTH I RUVANANTHAPURAM

October 201244

bringing the ISBA secretariat here will

create more opportunities for entrepre-

neurs in the near future,” said Dr. Nair.

The selection of Technopark TBI, to

house the ISBA Secretariat, was done by

the SBA general body.

“This is a big achievement for Kerala

IT in the last decade which has given

rise to many new investments and new

innovative technologies that are mak-

ing waves in the IT industry. We hope

this would provide a viable platform to

attract young talents to cherish their

dreams in the IT field and create suc-

cess,” he added.

P.H. Kurian, Principal Secretary IT, Govt

of Kerala appreciated Technopark TBI

for their efforts in popularizing incuba-

tion activities from Kerala and bringing

in a reputed Incubation organization like

ISBA to Kerala.

The Indian STEPs and Business Incuba-

tors’ Association (ISBA) was set up in

2004 as a registered professional body

to promote business incubation in India.

It aims to promote business incuba-

tion activities in the country through

exchange of information and sharing of

experience among related organizations

engaged in the promotion of start-up

enterprises.

The Secretariat will be the nodal agency

in the country that will be responsible

for suggesting possible alternatives to

the National Science and Technology

Entrepreneurship Development Board

(NSTEDB), the Department of Science

and Technology, Govt of India for set-

ting up policies conducive to promote

incubation infrastructure in the country

and measures for promoting incubation

companies.

P H Kurian, IT Principal Secretary con-

gratulated Technopark-TBI for their ef-

forts in popularising incubation activities

from Kerala and bringing in a reputed

incubation organisation such as the

ISBA to Kerala.

www.gomart.co.in

the simple way

to find

whatyou are

looking for


4 APPS You Like

Information collected from various sources can be captured in a single place. Notes

and itineraries can be synchronized across devices and shared with others. Text

within images can be searched for. Web pages, maps and scanned travel documents

can be stored. Photos and recorded audio can be saved in Evernote. Evernote makes

it easier to remember your various schedules and tasks.

Use a slingshot to launch birds to dish out revenge on the pigs. This is a challeng-

ing, yet comic-styled game. The elegant graphics and simplicity of the game makes

it a great game. As one advances through the levels, additional types of birds are

available with special abilities to destroy the various structures that the pigs are

stationed. The game has been considered one of the hit mainstream games.

It enables subscribers to read the regional newspapers they choose on their mobile.

It enables access to the latest news as and when it is reported, since the content is

continuously updated. The application works across all operators and is supported

by over 1500 handset models. Various English, Malayalam and other language news-

papers are available in NewsHunt.

Barcodes can be scanned faster with Scandit. The performance of Scandit is reliable

irrespective of the size of the barcode, bad lighting, uneven surface, etc. Comparison

shopping is an experience that Scandit provides. Review of products is also made

available. GS1 the international barcode standardization organization, has endorsed

Scandit, as its preferred technology for mobile barcode scanning.

Evernote

http://evernote.com/download

Angry Birds

http://shop.angrybirds.com/asia/games/mobile-games.html

NewsHunt

http://newshunt.com/download

Scandit- Barcode Scanner

http://www.scandit.com/barcode-scanner-sdk/

1.

2.

3.

4.

46 October 2012 Visit: http://www.gomart.co.inmartTH I RUVANANTHAPURAM

Excerpts:

Soorya festival 2012 and concerns

This is the 36th year of Soorya Festival.

The festival which commenced on Sep-

tember 1st will be a year-long extrava-

ganza. After holding cultural programs

in Chennai, Madurai and Bangalore,

the festival has come down to Thiruva-

nanthapuram. This time we didn’t get

Kalabhavan, Kairali, Sree so we had to

go for Theerthapada Mandapam. We

transformed the auditorium to a theatre

setting so that films can be screened.

Connoisseur of art:Soorya Krishnamoorthy

This article sheds new light on the multifarious personality of Soorya Krishnamoorthy , the man behind the largest and longest cultural festival of Asia- Soorya festival. This man has created his own niche in the field of arts and brought Trivandrum to the world map of culture. Unfazed by the difficulties this staunch devotee of Lord Ganesha stuck to art, keeping its purity to its best. He opens up his mind in a chat with Pooja Jayan.

FEA

TURE

ART

ICLE

Visit: http://www.gomart.co.inmartTH I RUVANANTHAPURAM

October 201248

Art for sale

Art is never a commodity for sale. When

art becomes business, the person who

performs it can never be called an artist.

Art is a blessing of God. It should be

used to do good to the society and not

to garner money or fame. A genuine

artist is someone who uses his art for

the betterment of the society. It’s sad

that artists do not work for their passion

but sees art merely as a means to amass

wealth. The most divine form of art in

the world is the lullaby of a mother.

It has the power to put her little one

to sleep. Her true love for the child is

embodied in her singing. It exemplifies

the selflessness of art.

Art as a source of entertainment

No art is for entertainment. An art is

for a purpose and that is education and

enrichment. We have molded a wrong

concept that art is for entertainment.

The role of an artist is to make people

cognizant of the world around them.

Take the example of Charlie Chaplin, we

laugh at his gestures. Its not mere en-

tertainment, he is showing us the grim

realties of life through his art. His great-

ness lies in this context; he successfully

brought out the truth of society in the

most humorous of ways.

A life devoted to art

Everybody is born for some mission.

After a certain point in life you recog-

nize it.

When I realised god chose me to foster

art and culture I resigned my job as a

scientist and devoted my life to art.

I’m striving hard to fulfill my mission

through every possible measure.

Women and Soorya festival

Women form majority of the partici-

pants in Soorya festival. Even if women

Soorya Krishnamoorthy


October 2012 49

artists do not have their performance on

stage, they come to be a part of the fest

just because they consider Soorya festi-

val as their home. There is an unwritten

rule in Soorya that every woman should

be treated with reverence. May be the

respect given to women in Soorya fes-

tival has attracted more women to be a

part of the event.

Art and Science

Art and science search for truth. If sci-

ence searches for the truth of universe,

arts search for the truth within our spiri-

tual self. A scientific invention is for the

betterment of society and not for the

scientist alone. Same is the case with

genuine art; it’s for the improvement of

society not the artist.

Media and art

Unfortunately our society and media

give undue significance to films and

cricket. Media has given the pinnacle of

importance to film stars and cricketers

and every bit of information about them

is made sensational news and by doing

so they astray people from genuine art.

The media people are doing great sin as

they go behind film stars ignoring the

true artist who devote their life for art.

We proudly give Padma Shri to Kajol,

but artists like O Madhavan, P Bhas-

karan, Thoppil Bhasi, etc. who have

summoned their life for art, is brushed

aside. This is like mocking genuine art.

Moments close to heart

The legendary Malayalam playback sing-

er K J Yesudas has been participating in

this event for 36 years now. Once I got

a call from him from Australia after two

hours of his desperate effort to reach

me as my phone was switched off while

I indulged myself with a movie. He said

that Australian government has decided

to honour him and he was asked for a

concert to be presented at one of the

prestigious stages across the globe.

But the concert was scheduled on

October 1st, the date which he renders

his mellifluous voice for Soorya festival

for decades. He said he’ll only say an



yes after my consent and added that he

is ready for delivering his performance

one or two days after October 1st. I was

flabbergasted at the value he gives for

the fest. It is just because of such dedi-

cated artists Soorya festival has become

popular across the globe.

Soorya festival as a record breaker

The festival is executed without per-

manent staff or managerial body. Yet,

records are broken. Two mobile phones

and a mail address connect me to differ-

ent parts of the world.

Soorya has 36 chapters across the globe

and nowhere we have office or paid

staff, despite this every event happens

on time.

The entire work is done by volunteers

and art enthusiasts. I am really thank-

ful to those people who helped Soorya

Festival to disseminate art and culture.

Message to younger generations

Younger generations should not be car-

ried away by glamour. Amid the young

people where is true love? Love has sur-

rendered miserably before materialistic

comforts. Where are young writers who

write about pure love? Still, M T Vasude-

van Nair or ONV has to write on pure

love at this age. It’s simply because they

carry genuine love in their heart which

the newer generation lack. Relations

have become worthless amidst today’s

youth. It is high time youth should

understand that material comfort is not

what matters, it is true love which mat-

ters the most.


Documents

Metromart October 2012