Articles by Arathi Manay Yajaman

The nightmare of our lakes is fast approaching. Yes, this is the time of year that every lake that has water in it would actually be wishing it was dry enough to turn away devotees of Lord Ganesha. Every year during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, thousands of idols that do not dissolve/ with hazardous paint and paraphenalia (not environmentally friendly) find their way to lakes and immersion tanks, creating tons of garbage after the festival.   This year, in order to encourage people to use clay Ganesha idols, MAPSAS will be doing two events at Kaikondarahalli Lake on Sunday, 13th…

Another Kere Habba this Saturday! The Horamavu Parisara Abhivruddhi Samiti (HPAS) - formerly Save Horamavu Lakes, in association with Namma Bengaluru Foundation is organising the Horamavu Agara Kere Habba on Saturday, 12th September 2015, from 7 a.m. to 12 noon at Horamavu Agara Kere. The exact location of the lake can be seen at this link goo.gl/maps/LYjmV. Kere Habba is an initiative of Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF). Habbas are held periodically at different Bangalore lakes, to create awareness about the importance of our lakes, and encourage citizen participation in their preservation. Reports/information about the previous four Kere Habbas can be seen on these links - Kere Habba at Kaikondrahalli Lake, Puttenahalli Kere Habba, Madiwala…

PNLIT invites you to celebrate International Literacy Day with "The Boy and the Drum" an engaging folk tale chosen especially for this year's event by Pratham Books. The book, adapted from a folktale by Umesh PN and beautifully illustrated by Rajiv Eipe is different because it is written in a way that can be performed as a play or read as a story. Meet Umesh the writer here. Geetu and her Snehadhara team are gearing up to tell the tale at Puttenahalli Lake. Will it be a play? Will it be a story? Find out for yourselves at the story telling session.   Date: Saturday, 12th September 2015  Time: 4:30…

Independence Day flag hoisting is traditionally held in schools, parade grounds, community centres and other public places. At mutlistoried apartment complexes too, this has become an event on the cultural calendar. This year, it was a pleasant surprise to see pictures of flag hoisting done at two lakes - Devarabisanahalli Lake in Bellandur ward in south-east Bangalore, and Vibutipura Lake in LB Shastri Nagar near HAL Airport. As reported on the Devarabisanahalli Lake's Facebook group, the flag hoisting at 7:30 a.m. had a good turnout with some of the candidates for the forthcoming municipal elections also making appearances. And the day ended…

"Lakes are essential to every city. They provide means of entertainment, they help local economies and they're beautiful to look at. But many times, human activities destroy lakes, spoil the ecosystems and make them unbearable." Harshvardhan Sanghi's under-six-minute documentary that his mother Suman posted on Facebook caught my attention. This Std XII student of Greenwood High International School lives close to Varthur Lake, one of the large, polluted lakes of Bangalore. Eager to help the ongoing efforts to get the authorities/ community to do something for the lake, Harshvardhan made this short film. He talks about the reasons for degredation and the…

On Sunday, 16th August 2015, 7:00 a.m. onwards, MAPSAS is organising a bird walk at Kasavanahalli Lake, Harlur (off Sarjapur Main Road). To know where exactly Kasavanahalli Lake is located see here. You can get regular updates about the lake from its new Facebook page here. A view of Kasavanahalli Lake, as posted on its Facebook page Sumanth Madhav, of the Gerry Martin Project, an avid and entertaining speaker will be conducting the walk. Open to all ages, but note that there will be a bit of walking to do. Young children are bound to enjoy it. Go prepared with comfortable shoes, water bottles…

On the occasion of Independence Day on 15th August, Yelahanka United Environment Assocation (YUVA) along with Karnataka Amateur Rowing Association (KARA), an affiliate of Rowing Federation of India (RFI) is organizing Karnataka's first Inter-lake Rowing Championship, at the splendid rejuvenated 44-acre Allalasandra Lake in Yelahanka New Town.  Young rowers in action  More than ten children from schools located in the Yelahanka area have won medals in various National Rowing Championships. These young boys and girls travel all the way from North Bangalore to Ulsoor Lake which is over 35 kms away for practice early every morning.    KARA and RFI have been promoting the…

‘Cycle Day’ was organized by Yelahanka United Environment Association (YUVA) in partnership with Directorate of Urban Land Transport, Government of Karnataka, BCOS, Praja RAAG, EMBARQ and ESAF with support from Bangalore Police (Traffic and Law & Order) and BBMP in Yelahanka on 2nd August 2015, from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This Cycle Day was dedicated to the memory of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Cyclists observed two minutes silence as mark of respect to the late President of India before the start of the cycle rally. Dr Kalam has a residence in Kendriya Vihar Apartment which overlooks the Yelahanka Lake. The cycling route was around…

Come Saturday 8th August 2015, treat yourself to a sumptuous Buffet Continental Breakfast at Le Pont Cafe and Patisserie.   Adding to the many flavours and ambience is the fact that you will be eating out for a cause.    PNLIT is coming together with our Puttenahalli Lake neighbourhood Le Pont Cafe and Patisserie to organise the first of its kind Fundraising Breakfast.   Team PNLIT invites each of one of you with family, including children, to come and enjoy your Saturday with us.   Date: 8th August 2015 (Saturday) Time: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Venue: Le Pont, 24th Main, JP Nagar 7th Phase (Opposite Brigade Palm Springs)   Cost: INR 500 for adults, INR 250 for…

Sunday, 2nd August 2015 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Yelahanka Lake   This Cycle Day event is dedicated to the memory of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. A poster exhibition is being organized at the venue. Cyclists will wear black armbands and observe two minutes silence in memory of the late President of India at the start of the cycle rally.   The cycle rally will be held around the 350-acre Yelahanka lake (around 6.5 km), followed by cultural events and traditional games on the street. Free cycle rentals with surrender of id card is being arranged. Light breakfast will be available…