The open invitation selection trials will be held on March 16, (Sunday) at 8,30 AM at Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Chennai, located at Vandalur Kelambakkam Road, Keelakottaiyur.

Aspiring players are required to bring their UDID (Unique Disability ID), disability certificate, Aadhaar card, and a passport-size photo for verification. Prior registration is mandatory to participate in the trials.

For further details and registration, interested candidates can contact 9940633177 / 9841702338.

The Tamil Nadu Para Cricket Association is committed to promoting inclusivity and providing opportunities for differently-abled cricketers to represent the state at competitive levels. The event is expected to witness a strong turnout as talented players compete for a spot in the state team.

The association’s leadership includes Dr. Raghavi (President), Dr. Vincent (Vice President), Mr. Mukundhan (Secretary), and Mr. Senthil (Treasurer), who are working collectively to support and develop para cricket in Tamil Nadu.

Haleem, a slow-cooked delicacy made from high-quality meat, lentils, wheat, ghee, and aromatic spices, is known for its nutritional value and energy-boosting properties, making it a staple during Iftar. Pista House ensures authenticity by sourcing select spices, ghee, and rava directly from Hyderabad, staying true to its original recipe.

Central Kitchen and distribution points across Chennai

Pista House has set up a central kitchen in Royapettah, alongside a live kitchen unit at Lalitha Party Hall, Seevaram (Near Toll Gate). Freshly prepared Haleem is available daily from 3 PM onwards at multiple locations across Chennai.

The distribution outlets include locations in Royapettah at Peter’s Road, Perungudi at Lalitha Party Hall, Navalur at RTS Food Street, and Sholinganallur at Ambur Star Biryani. Other spots include Anna Nagar, Mogappair, Ramapuram, Chrompet, Rajkilpakkam, and Thiruvanmiyur, all housed within Ambur Star Biryani outlets. Additionally, Mannady near Edgah Masjid, Potheri at Golcondas, and MWC at V Mini Mart also serve this Ramadan special.

Pista House also sells Vegetarian Haleem, which will be available exclusively on Sundays at the Royapettah outlet.

Customers can purchase Haleem directly at these locations or place orders via Zomato and Swiggy for home delivery. Orders can also be placed through 97890 60918, 98849 20918, 99666 21404.

Gaura Purnima commemorates the birth of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who appeared over 500 years ago in Navadvipa, West Bengal, to spread the yuga-dharma—the congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. 

Event Highlights

The celebrations will feature a spiritually uplifting lineup of events:

• 4.30 am: Mangala Aarthi, Kirtan and Japam
• 7 am: Guru Puja
• 7.15 am: Srimad Bhagavatam discourse
• 8 am: Darshan Aarti
• 4 pm: Kirtan 
• 5.45 pm: Abhishekam
• 6.30 pm: Discourse on Lord Chaitanya
• 7 pm: Maha Arati 
• 7.30 pm: Anukalpa Prasadam 

Devotees and visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the blissful chanting of Kirtan, witness the sacred bathing ceremony, and listen to enlightening discourses on the life and teachings of Mahaprabhu. The evening will conclude with a Maha Arati and the serving of Anukalpa Prasadam, a special feast prepared for the occasion.

Holika Dahan – March 13, 2025

In addition to Gaura Purnima, ISKCON Chennai will also observe Holika Dahan on March 13 at 11.30 pm, symbolising the burning away of negativity before stepping into a spiritually enriching celebration.

ISKCON Chennai warmly welcomes devotees, spiritual seekers, and the general public to participate in this auspicious festival, receive divine blessings, and experience the boundless mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

For those unable to attend in person, the celebrations will be live-streamed at iskconchennai.org/live. For further details, visit: iskconchennai.org.

The event served as a heartfelt gesture to appreciate the incredible women of the Greenwood Society. Adding to the spirit of the occasion, the women of the society extended their gratitude to their lady housekeeping staff by organizing a special lunch and presenting them with thoughtful gifts. This act of kindness emphasized the importance of inclusivity and recognition for the hardworking women who contribute to the community’s well-being.

Parry Travels’ support added a touch of grandeur to the celebration, ensuring a memorable experience for all attendees. The event underscored the significance of acknowledging women’s efforts, not just on this special day but throughout the year.

The Greenwood Society’s International Women’s Day celebrations stood as a shining example of community togetherness and appreciation, reinforcing the essence of empowerment and gratitude.

The system utilizes unique QR codes for each vehicle that are displayed behind the driver’s seat. Passengers can simply scan the code with their smartphones. If they feel unsafe or encounter any problem during their journey, they can press the SOS button within the QR code system. This will instantly send an alert message with the vehicle’s location and other relevant details to the police control room. Additionally, passengers can directly call the emergency number 112 for immediate assistance.

This technology enables real-time tracking of the vehicle and facilitates a faster response from law enforcement agencies, especially during late hours or in less populated areas. The Chief Minister emphasised the importance of passenger safety and highlighted the government’s commitment to leveraging technology for better public services.

The Police are also collaborating with popular ride-hailing applications like Ola, Uber, and Rapido to integrate their emergency response systems with the police control room. This means that any distress call made through these apps will also be directly communicated to the police, allowing for swift action.

With over 89,000 auto-rickshaws operating within the city, this initiative is expected to significantly bolster passenger safety and create a more secure transportation environment in Chennai. The project is being rolled out in phases, with the initial focus on autos and taxis. The government plans to expand this system to other modes of public transport in the future.

The Chennai Chapter of Dignity Foundation, which also celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, has consistently set benchmarks in senior citizen welfare, winning the Best Chapter Award for four consecutive years. 

To mark this momentous year, NIFT Chennai conceptualized and meticulously curated the Inclusive Fashion Show, seamlessly blending creativity, inclusivity, and the spirit of celebration. The event saw spirited senior citizens, who proudly call themselves “Juniors at Heart”, confidently walk the NIFT runway, proving that fashion has no age limit. Their vibrant ensembles inspired by Carnival themes from around the world were a testament to the power of fashion as a tool for self-expression and cultural celebration.

The show was expertly coordinated by Dr. Geetha Ranjini, Sridhar Amanchy, and Pratheepa Raj, supported by an enthusiastic team of NIFT Chennai students who styled, accessorized, and groomed the senior citizen models for their big moment on the runway.

This heartwarming showcase not only highlighted NIFT Chennai’s commitment to inclusive fashion but also underscored the transformative role of design in promoting social inclusion, intergenerational bonding, and creative empowerment.

Adding a vibrant touch to the celebration, a total of 54 children from Nithyaarpana School, Chatur Lakshana School of Fine Arts, Kritha Dance School, Kalaroopam Dance School, and Agaram presented captivating dance performances.

The Club made monetary donations to Avvai Home, V.H.S Hospital, Asha Niketan, Karunai Trust, Rajalakshmi Charitable Trust, Madras Dyslexia  Association, Bala Mandir and Swastha.

Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-SERC and Coordinating Director, CMC, presided over the function, emphasizing the significance of science in everyday life and its role in India’s progress. The chief guest, Prof. Dr. Stephan Grill – Director of Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology & Genetics (Germany), delivered a lecture on the ‘Physics of Life’, discussing living systems and molecular motors.

As part of the celebrations, the second edition of the Dr. N. Lakshmanan Memorial Science Quiz Competition was held on Feb.28 for Greater Chennai Corporation School students. Organised by A.K. Farvaze Ahmed and his team, the quiz saw participation from 93 students across 31 schools. CHSS – Virugambakkam won first place, followed by CHS – Korattur and CHS – Padikuppam. Trophies, shields, and prize money were awarded to winners by Dr. Anandavalli.

The event highlighted the theme ‘Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science & Innovation for Viksit Bharat’, fostering scientific curiosity among young minds.

Leading the effort were Supriya Sahu IAS – Additional Chief Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate Change & Forests) and Silai Zaki – Australia’s Consul-General, who were joined by over 50 volunteers in cleaning the beach. V.Jaya Chandra Bhanu Reddy IAS – Additional Commissioner (Health), Srinivasan – Corporation Zonal Officer (Zone 13), Ignacio Albert Gleiser – Managing Director of Urbaser Sumeet, along with Urbaser Sumeet CEO Mahmood Sait and the senior management team, enthusiastically participated, highlighting their commitment to sustainability.

“Chennai has been making commendable strides in waste management, and we hope this initiative motivates people to realise they can make a difference to bring out the best of Chennai,” said Ms. Silai Zaki, Australia’s Consul-General.

Dr. Munawardeen of Exnora spoke on pressing environmental challenges and the organization’s efforts to tackle them. The coordinator of Exnora’s Waterbody Restoration Project, Karpagam, urged students not to pollute lakes and ponds, stressing that these are natural recharge stations for groundwater. She encouraged students to participate in cleanup activities and educate local communities about protecting water bodies. Dr. Muthukumar, Program Officer of the Tamil Nadu Department of Environment, advised students to reduce carbon emissions by cycling or carpooling. He also elaborated on global warming and carbon footprints.

For conducting awareness sessions in your locality, institution, contact 90946 86187.