Society

Unnati Center will reverbrate with heavenly music from renowned artists and their excellent accompanists as part of Utsav, from August 6th - 26th. This cultural event is organised around Gokulashtami/ Janmashtami every year. Around 75 musicians, 16 concerts, one lecture-demo, three days of Bhajans and four days of discourses will jump start the musical event. A lot of meticulous planning and arrangements have gone into this mela. Unni Krishnan performing on the weekend. Pic : SGBS The musical festival was kicked off on the weekend with concerts from the sisters Shanmughapriya and Haripriya and Unnikrishnan P. "For 34 years we…

Rotary Bangalore Indiranagar announced the annual inter-school tournaments which will beign on 20th August and go on till the 31st. The tournament will have two editions for boys and girls and is being conducted in association with Karnataka State Hockey Association.The  boys' tournament, named 'Rotary Bangalore Indiranagar Dr G S Ranhawa Memorial Inter School Boys' Hockey Tournament' is in its twenty first year now. It will be the inaugural edition of the 'Rotary Bangalore Indiranagar Inter School Girls' Hockey Tournment' this year. The tournament will be held at the hockey stadium at Akkithimmanahalli, Bangalore.The tournament is open to school boys…

Urban farming in small spaces is the way of the future, however growing vegetables in small spaces can be challenging. The first thought that comes to mind when you moved into your brand new apartment is usually –  "I miss my backyard and the little patch of kitchen garden I tended to". Don’t worry, raised bed planters are an ideal solution that substitutes the little patch you miss.  Home Harvest's planter on Nandini's balcony. Pic: Nandini Vaidyanathan Oota from your Thota Citizen Matters and Garden City Farmers Trust, Bangalore join other Indian cities in the movement initiated by  Kitchen Gardener's…

My friend's 3-year-old wanted to start a garden in their balcony. The friend wanted an easy and manageable aproach.  Of course, as with most persons who have had some experience with balcony/terrace gardening, I wait for such opportunities to offer suggestions! The easiest way to start an organic vegetable garden is with herbs. It takes little space, almost nothing of your time; and the way I see it – the sheer luxury of stepping into your balcony (as opposed to trudging to the nearest store, braving the traffic) to pluck a few leaves and garnish the dish being cooked should…

Bangalore Club for Kathakali & the Arts, a non-commercial organisation focusing on the preservation and promotion of Kathakali and other classical art forms, brings to you an evening of Kathakali Padam (Kathakali songs) first time in Bangalore by acclaimed singers Pathiyoor Sankarankutty and Kottackal Madhu. Pathiyoor Sankarankutty and Kottackal Madhu. Pic courtesy: BCKA. Pathiyoor Sankarankutty learned music from his father, the renowned Kathakali singer Late Shri. Pathiyoor Krishna Pillai. He passed Ganabhooshanam from RLV Music College, Thripunithara and subsequently joined Kerala Kalamandalam for training in Kathakali music. Pathiyoor’s mellifluous rendering of padams with elaborate bhava has made him a veteran…

At 12 15 pm every Wednesday, a blue bus halts near Padmanabha Nagar BMTC bus stop. It is not a BMTC bus, however, and is one of the only two vehicles in Bangalore that travels around the city to satisfy the reading needs of bibliophiles. Board announcing the timings and contact details of the mobile library: Pic: Yogaraj S Mudalgi These are the government operated libraries on wheels. Within seconds of the blue bus pulling up near the bus stop, men and women board the bus, return books and browse for new ones to borrow. Returns and issues happen quickly…

Born to a social worker, Vasantha in Ragigudda, a low income area in south Bangalore, 28-year-old Aruldass Vijaya and his brothers became school drop outs after their mason father deserted them when they were young. Incidentally, Arul's mother was then an active political leader in their neighbourhood who started Indira Women's Welfare Association which worked for the social advancement of marginalised women in Ragigudda.Vijaya was compelled into child labour and was exploited by his extended family. Fortunately, an NGO employee spotted him and enrolled him in an informal school run by the well known Bangalore based NGO, Association for the Promotion of…

Nrityantar is holding its second Odissi festival Naman 2011 on July 31st, 5.30 pm at Seva Sadan, Malleshwaram. This is the second year of the festival. Nrityantar headed by Madhulita Mohapatra organises Odissi dance classes and lecture demonstration and dance performances. Aruna Mohanty This year's festival is dedicated to the memory of odissi guru Gangadhar Pradhan (1948-2010), who passed away last year. His disciple Aruna Mohanty will enthrall the audience with her recital on the 31st. The event will also have a performance by Rajashri Praharaj along with young artiste Debashish Patnaik from Orissa. Guru Pradhan was an odissi exponent…

Bengaluru is food world, everything is about food and everything is about choice. The days when there was one eatery in one area are now gone. Food lovers love the variety. Pic: Sherene David Shanthinagar, once a quiet place, is now a place of booming business for small eateries. Places like Kashivishwanath, and Kolkata chaats are gaining wide popularity among the residents and is fast becoming the favorite hangouts of many students. "I started this shop around 6 months ago," says the owner of ‘Kaashivishwanath samosa shop'. "I used to work with my uncle at the main shop, he taught…

Having known Sarita Kotagiri for the past few years, I have reached a conclusion that philanthropists do not necessarily have to be celebrities or famous personalities. Anyone who really cares for others can always find opportunities to help in many different ways. All that one needs is a big heart. Sarita Kotagiri. Pic courtesy: Trupti Godbole Sarita Kotagiri is a home maker in her late 30s. This pharmacy post graduate, a top scorer in from Al Ameen College of Pharmacy has been helping innumerable people in all walks of life. A busy homemaker like many women in the city, Sarita…