Our own pattammal
Beyond several firsts that marked her musical genius and the boundless affection the legendary gurus had showered on her, Carnatic vocalist Parassala B Ponnammal who passed away at the age of 97, early this week, was an amazingly contented human being and a bottomless repository of blissful classical music.
Perhaps, it was this higher order of classical refinement and her unobtrusive philosophical approach towards life that made a befitting appreciation of her music impossible for generations of musicians and music lovers in Kerala.
“Ponnammal got a new lease of life when she became the first woman to sing at the traditional Navarathri Mandapam of Padmanabha Swamy Temple in 2006. Since then, she started receiving invitations from far and wide. Finally, the country honoured her with Padma Shri in 2017. The purity of her music was unparalleled. I feel that her true potential was not tapped fully,” says Gouri Parvathy Bai of the Travancore royal family.
Balaramapuram handloom weavers clutch at poll threads as Kerala readies to vote on April 6
Balaramapuram handloom weavers clutch at poll threads as Kerala readies to vote on April 6
Balaramapuram, a town in the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, is home to Kerala’s famous traditional weavers. This village once had more than 2,000 handloom workers, now it hosts little less than 500.
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UPDATED: April 5, 2021 16:02 IST
Being a homemaker, Ratnam completes her work at home by around 10 in the morning, and then she begins the loom work.
Elections in Kerala are perhaps the grandest celebration of all in the state. Amid the colour and energy of the poll party, however, the simple white dhoti continues to be staple wear for politicians of all hues. Unsurprisingly then, campaign strategies have evolved over the years but the traditional white dhoti that political leaders wear remains unchanged.
Gold treasures and diamond-studded earth crusts have been at the crux of India’s rich culture. And, the Travancore royal family, even today, holds a significant share of the country’s gold reserves. It is not every day that the ownership of one of the world’s richest temples is offered to you and your family. But, for the Travancore royal family, the story is slightly different, after having briefly lost control of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the family regained it in mid-2020. Before we deep-dive into their story, let’s get introduced to the history of the family and why the rights of the temple were taken away from them.
Thanka Anki procession sets off to Sabarimala
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Updated:
Strict curbs on public receptions en route in view of COVID-19
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The ceremonial procession carrying the golden attire to adorn Lord Ayyappa sets off from the Sree Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula to Sabarimala on Tuesday.
Strict curbs on public receptions en route in view of COVID-19
The procession carrying Thanka Anki, golden attire, for the Mandalapuja at Sabarimala set off from the Sree Parthasarathy temple in Aranmula on Tuesday.
Having been kept for darsan at the temple for about two hours from 5 a.m., the sacred attire was taken out on a motorised chariot in an atmosphere charged with devotion. Notwithstanding the COVID-19 restrictions, several devotees were present on the occasion. Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president N. Vasu were among those who turned up for the procession.