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 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.

Currently, the van provides testing for non-communicable diseases, liver disease screening, dental hygiene checks, and general consultations. Patients are linked to appropriate care when needed. Plans are underway to introduce a mobile ultrasonogram to assess fatty liver disease, a growing health concern.

By offering preventive healthcare, this initiative helps reduce the burden on hospitals and aligns with Tamil Nadu’s public health goals. “RCCT has been supporting health and education initiatives for the underprivileged since 1998,” says Club President Rtn Shalin Shah. Interested organisations can contact 73587 64200 for more information.

These camps aim to assist the public with various issues related to the Public Distribution System (PDS), including:

• Addition or removal of family members in ration cards
• Address changes
• Inclusion or modification of LPG connection details

Additionally, senior citizens lacking proper identification will receive the necessary certification. Complaints regarding the quality or quantity of goods at ration shops and other PDS-related grievances will also be addressed.

Residents are encouraged to make use of these camps to resolve their concerns efficiently.

We do have a volcano of our very own, and can you imagine it is erupting as you read this article?

It is a volcano on Barren Island in the Andaman Islands. It is the only active volcano in South Asia, and it is currently active. The Island is uninhabited except for a small population of wild goats. This is my 3rd visit to the island. It was deep-sea big-game sportfishing that took me initially to the island, and this time around too, it was fishing that took me back to the island. 

Recently, three of us were on a deep-sea angling expedition in that region. Starting from Havelock Island, we were on a dedicated sport-fishing boat.

While we did a good deal of fishing, the view of the island was just awesome. The sight of the volcano erupting dense smoke, ash, and fire was simply breathtaking. During my first visit, I had spent the night on board anchored off the island (presently spending the night off an anchored boat is not permitted). The night view of the volcano was also amazing. You can keep watching those fireworks that keep lighting up the dark sky. Andaman is home to big game-sport fishes like the Marlin, Tuna, Giant Trevally, Kingfish, Barracuda, Grouper, Wahoo, Sharks and so on. These fish caught are released back into the ocean after being photographed.

Angling is highly absorbing and can reward you with so much joy and excitement. It can give you the adrenaline rush of your life. Believe me, it does. But for angling, I would not have seen the Barren Island and witnessed one of nature’s fascinating wonders.

* Big-game sportfishing, also known as offshore or deep-sea fishing, is a sport that involves catching large fish species using specialised fishing rods and reels. Sports fishermen use artificial lures and handheld rods. This sport requires skill, patience, and endurance, as the targeted fish are strong and often put up a challenging fight. All the fish caught are safely released back into the ocean. 
* While the volcano at Barren Island is erupting continuously, major eruptions were witnessed in 1787, 1991, 2005, 2017 and 2020. A large part of the volcano lies underwater, with only the tip forming the island. The waters around Barren Island are known for rich marine biodiversity, including manta rays, reef sharks, and coral reefs.
* For more information on fishing / water sports / trips to Barren Island, contact captainhooks.havelock@gmail.com; Ph: 74308 13322, WhatsApp: 9434280543.
* The Chennai coast too has a lot of fishing. For gear, advice, etc., one can contact Anglers Fishing Tackles and Poseidon Sport Fishing in Chennai.