The festival, known for its vibrant display of hot air balloons from across the globe, is a significant attraction for locals and tourists alike. The event promises a spectacular visual treat, offering rides and cultural performances, and aims to boost tourism along the scenic ECR stretch.

Organizers anticipate record-breaking attendance this year, making the festival a highlight in Tamil Nadu’s calendar of cultural events.

The event will take place daily from 3 PM to 9.30 PM, with highlights including hot air balloon tethering starting at 4.30 PM, the dazzling Night Glow Balloon Show at 5.30 PM, and live musical performances from 6.30 PM to 10 PM.

Each day will offer a variety of experiences for visitors:

• Jan.10: Balloon tethering, night glow show, food stalls, games, and a musical fusion performance.
• Jan.11: A special performance by the popular Thaikkudam Bridge Band in addition to balloon shows and carnival attractions.
• Jan.12: Balloon displays, games, food stalls, and more musical entertainment.

The carnival will also feature a shopping expo, food court, kids’ games, and live music, creating a vibrant atmosphere for families and enthusiasts.

Weather conditions will play a crucial role in the balloon displays and tethering activities, ensuring safety and optimal experiences for attendees.

For more details, visit the https://www.tnibf.com/.

The event celebrated the achievements of 50 champions – individuals who have overcome leprosy and other disabilities, from four districts. These champions shared their life stories, showcasing their efforts in raising awareness in their communities, advocating for policy-level changes, and working towards inclusive environments for people affected by leprosy and disabilities. A special session on government schemes for people with disabilities was also conducted. 

Many slokas including Rudram Chamakam were recited by the residents. The deity was decorated grandly each day and residents came together to sing songs and bhajans daily.

On the day of immersion, Lord Ganesha was dressed in a silk white cloth and carried in a pallak around the apartment 3 times, while the residents chanted ‘Ganesh Bappa Morya’ and ‘Mangala Moorthy Mourya’. The celebration concluded with the immersion of the idol at Elliot’s beach.

Due to overwhelming enthusiasm from the student community in India and abroad, the Institute is considering an increase in the number of seats for both programs. To make the teaching-learning experience substantive and aligned with the needs of the market, industry collaboration and exchange programs are being assiduously explored. In 2023, IIT Madras became the first IIT to establish a full-fledged campus in a foreign country.

The last date to apply for the BS program is 15th April 2024. The screening test will be held on 9th June 2024 (2 pm to 5 pm IST and 11.30 am to 2.30 pm East African Time). The last date to apply for the MTech program is 15th March 2024. Various stages of the selection process, details of the evaluation, pattern of the screening test, fee structure, important dates, detailed syllabus and eligibility criteria, among other details, can be obtained from the following link – https://www.iitmz.ac.in/IITMZST_Information_Brochure_2024_v1.1.pdf.

PRAKRUTHI, with its strong resource team of knowledge strategists, including Environment Auditor Dr T.D.Babu, former Forest Officer Dr Sugato Dutt and Principal of Stella Maris College Dr Sr. Stella Mary shared their insights on disaster mitigation to redress the plights of encroaching into the waterbodies, like in the areas of OMR and Velachery. Student volunteers would be conducting frequent sensitisation / awareness programmes along with many activities activities for ecosystem restoration. To join the campaign, mail to priamfoundation@gmail.com and visit the website: www.prakruthi.co.

On Dec.30, I joined a small group of people at Elliott’s Beach to remember Karl Schmidt at the simple but loving monument to him by the sea.

As legend and Wikipedia have it, in 1930, Karl, a Dane working with the East Asiatic Company in Madras, died at this spot, after saving a young woman from drowning. He was 29. The then Governor of Madras, Sir George Frederick Stanley, built a memorial in his honour.

The full details of the events of that day may never be known. But what is obvious is that the memorial fell into a derelict state over the years, becoming a haunt of tipplers and loiterers. In 2014, the Greater Chennai Corporation restored and reinforced the structure, working with IIT Madras and REACH Foundation. It is the only heritage structure on the beach.

On 30 December each year, activists, concerned citizens, and journalists gather at this spot to remember him. Their devotion has remained constant. They are led by Spark, a civic forum, which came into being in 2012, with the push for the restoration of the Schmidt memorial.

A worker from Urbaser Sumeet unlocked the gate to let us in. We went around the monument, laid a wreath, and held aloft our golden electric bulb ‘candles’ that could not be blown out by the buffeting wind. Members of the group took pictures.

We tried to ignore the careless graffiti and other defacements on the monument walls. The locked gates do not stop people from clambering up the walls for a thrilling sea view. It is a popular selfie spot. “But nobody cares to know what this monument is, even if you try to tell them,” says Kamakshi Subramanyam, 95, the civic activist who led the initiative with T. D. Babu of Spark, to have the monument restored.

Most egregious of all, the security guards appointed by GCC with taxpayer money, she says, are never to be seen. Few beachgoers stopped to ask what we were doing. As we left, the evening breeze was delightfully cool, almost obliterating the food smells that came with it. I looked back at Karl’s memorial, its alabaster walls catching the setting sun. It was time to save it, once again.

Bharati Sadasivam is a resident of Kalakshetra Colony and can be contacted at bharati.sadasivam@gmail.com.

On Dec.16, Freedom Trust, in association with L&T GeoStructure, organised a fitment and distribution camp of mobility aids and appliances at Indira Nagar Youth Hostel Hall. The event made a positive impact on the lives of 59 differently-abled children and adults. R.Ganesh, Head & Chief Executive L&T GeoStructure, and his team also participated in the camp. Freedom Trust was represented by its core members whose collaborative effort underscores the trust’s commitment to creating a more inclusive and supportive community.

A lot remains to be done and Freedom Trust, with its corporate partners, is sparing no effort to build a more inclusive society for the mobility impaired.

The fair saw participation from differently-abled (Divyangjan) artisans from 20 states and union territories, who displayed their skills, art and entrepreneurship. Their abilities and talent were appreciated by thousands of people visiting the fair, which generated a turnover of more than Rs 1 crore. Dr.Virendra Kumar said that the products of the differently-abled will also be available to the people of India and abroad on the e-platform www.nhfdcfoundation.org, where people will be able to see the indigenous goods of Divyangjan artisans and craftsmen. He also called upon the disabled people to take full advantage of the loan schemes of the Government of India and NHFDC.

On the occasion, Dr.Virendra Kumar gave away many awards – Best Sale, Innovative Product, Best Stall Display, Best Woman Participant etc. Through the job-fair conducted as part of the mela, some of the differently-abled were shortlisted for jobs, while several others were provided with sessions on marketing. The central government proposes to organise such Divya Kala Melas in other parts of the country as well.