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Hear Our Vedas and Mantras Recited by Italians
Influenced by the spirituality and Hindu way of life, 23 Italians, including a couple from the Vatican, underwent a crash course in learning Sanskrit hymns and mantras at the Veda Patashala in Karuvadikuppam on Sunday. Amid vedic chants, A. Raja Sastrigal gave diksha to the Italians.
Vidya Sagar, Formerly Spastics Society of India, Paves the Way for the Differently Abled
Vidya sagar, As part of its youth programme that seeks to help youngsters with disability, the organisation, formerly called the Spastics Society of India, launched a marketing unit christened ‘Kalakkal kadai‘ to act as a bridge between potential consumers and differentlyabled entrepreneurs.
India’s First Privately Owned Airport to Come up in Karaikal, Tamilnadu
The country’s first 100 per cent privately- owned airport could become functional l at Karaikal, an enclave of Puducherry, within the next two years, if Super Airport Private Limited, a Coimbatore- based company, is successful.Having purchased 400 acres of land and obtained clearance from the Union Environment Ministry, the company is now looking forward to raise the required fund to start the construction of the greenfield airport. The company hopes to raise the funds within the next six months.Currently, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry has sanctioned 14 such greenfield airports. While 13 of these projects are based on the Public-Private Partnership model, the Karaikal airport will be the first 100 per cent privately-built and owned airport in India.
New Airport to Facilitate ATR Type Aircrafts to Fly to Puducherry
With a new terminal building expected to be ready by August this year, the Puducherry airport is all set for a makeover. While there are no scheduled flights to this Union Territory(UT), airport authorities plan to facilitate airline operators to fly ATR type aircraft.
Presently un-scheduled flights, helicopter operations and flying clubs operate this airport. “The Rs30 crore new terminal building that can accommodate 150 passengers at a time will be opened by August this year,” said Airports Authority of India (AAI) southern region executive director D. Devaraj. Noting that no airline has filed for any operations from Puducherry airport, he said the AAI has made the airport ready for ATR operations.
Recognition on its Way for Old Lighthouse in Pondicherry
The 173-year-old lighthouse in Pondicherry, which was abandoned several decades ago and became a dump yard for broken furniture from government offices, has begun to receive due recognition.
Plans are on to promote the lighthouse as a cultural hotspot by setting up a permanent museum inside it to house rare artefacts, images and photographs tracing the rich maritime tradition of ports on the Coromandel Coast and their cultural connections with the rest of the world since the first century BC.
Chennai faces the outcome of Thane, a very severe cyclonic storm
The very severe cyclonic storm ‘Thane” over southwest Bay of Bengal moved further westward and crossed north Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore and Puducherry between 0630 and 0730 hrs on Friday, the Indian Meteorological Department said.
It then continued to move westwards and weakened into a severe cyclonic storm and lay centered at 0830 on Friday, 30 Km west of Cuddalore and 35 Km southwest of Puducherry.
According to IMD’s latest cyclone update (09.30 a.m.), the system is likely to move westwards and weaken further.
Under the influence of this system, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places would occur over north coastal Tamil Nadu & Puducherry during next 12 hours and over north interior Tamil Nadu during next 24 hours. Rainfall at many places with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur over south coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 12 hours and over Rayalseema, north Kerala and south Karnataka during next 24 hours.
Gale winds speed reaching 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph is likely along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts and adjoining areas of north interior Tamil Nadu during next 3 hours and then decrease gradually.
Travel to Pondy and Learn Surfing in 10 Days
Riding the waves is a pleasure and training is a must. Read on about Kallialay, The surfing school in Pondicherry aka Puducherry.
Juan and Samai Reboul, born in a small village off the coast of Spain, were not introduced to the world of surfing until they moved to Auroville, India in 95, at the ages of 9 and 10. It was here that a group of surfing pioneers allowed them their own boards with which they could plunge into their newfound passion, unaware that this would lead them towards their present situation. As years went by, their enthusiasm for surfing grew and soon they found themselves with a notorious reputation for their loud voices, large fin-like noses and the habit of ditching school to catch some waves. Today, their old teachers still laugh about how, on several occasions, they unsuccessfully attempted to drag the two boys off their boards and into class (the brothers were apparently oblivious to the shouting figures on the beach).
Auroville, a Township Symbolizing Unity
Auroville is a universal township in the making for a population of up to 50,000 people from around the world. This is not an ashram or it does not have usual tourist attractions. It is 146 km ( about 90 miles ) from Chennai. It can be reached by Bus or Car from Chennai and very close to Puduchery / Pondichery. It is a unique place, read further to know about Auroville.
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