News Archive

Kochi: Indu Thampy is crowned as Hair Omax Miss Kerala at a glittering ceremony held at Le Meridian on Thursday evening. Manju Raj is the first runner-up and Sonel Devraj is the second runner-up. Impresario is the event management company which is conducting the show and 22 participants took part in the final. Delhi designer Digvijay Singh, fashion columnist of Hindustan Times Vinod Nair, fashion photographer from Mumbai Nisha Kutty, actor Anoop Menon, Actress Ranjini, cameraman P Sukumar, writer Anita Nair, Medimix MD Pradeep, Linguard CEO Charles, Vijay Babu from Surya TV are the panelist. Hairomax were the chief sponsors.

Date : August 19

Time : 7:00pm – 10:30pm

Location : IMA Hall , Ernakulam, Kerala

Tickets Call 9895790120-Ashith or 9020633992-Suneer

The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) will open a new park on August 12 in the heart of the city for Kochiites to spend their leisure time.
The park, named ‘GCDA Nandanam’, has a total land area of 15,000 square feet and is built on the western side of the GCDA headquarters at Kadavanthra.
The park will be inaugurated by GCDA chairperson M C Josephine. “The park was built without doing any damage to the trees and the environment. The 50yearold mahogany, red palm, royal palm and various flower plants are sure to make the park a beautiful place, where families will like to spend the evenings,” Josephine said.
Nandanam park has a walkway with a length of 120 metres paved with tiles.
There is also a 300squarefoot pond at the centre with a fountain next to it. There will be a special play area for children. Park benches, statues and paintings are another attractions at the park.
“A variety species of cropped plants and the 500squarefoot of beautiful meadow laid with Mexican grass add to the beauty of the park,” the contractor M R Chandran Pillai said.
Noted environmentalist A Aravindksha Menon will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural function.

The Cheeyappara Waterfall is on the Kochi – Madurai Highway (National Highway 49), between Neriamangalam and Adimali. It is located in the Idukki district, Kerala.The Cheeyappara Waterfall cascades down in seven steps. Seeing this really is a breath taking experience. If you are interested in trekking you are having an opportunity for that too.


Cheeyappara Waterfall is considered as one of the best waterfalls in Kerala. Not only tourist the locals are also visits this venue regularly. As it is situated away from the city, it gives an opportunity to everyone to make pleasure trip. You can have a visit to Valara Waterfall as it not that far away from the Cheeyappara Waterfall. If you are lucky you will spot the The Great Hornbill known locally as ‘Malamuzhakki Vezhambal’. Its quite a splendid experience that you never want to miss.

Kerala lost it again in the pre quarter of the Santhosh Trophy Tournament 2010 to Mizoram. Mizoram won it with a score line of 1-0. The goal was scored in the second half.  Last year also Kerala lost it in the pre quarter. Kerala reached the pre quarter by beating Assam (5-2).

Thiru Kochi bus routes:

Aluva-Aroor temple (buses would ply through both Padma and Menaka, Thopumpady, Edakochi);
Aluva-Fort Kochi (through Padma/Menaka, Thopumpady);
Aluva-Poothotta (Padma/Menaka, Vytilla, Tripunithura);
Aluva-Chottanikkara (Padma/Menaka, Vytilla, Tripunithura);
Ernakulam-Thevara-Pookattupady (Padma/Menaka, Kaloor, Edapally, Kalamassery); Thevara-Eloor ferry (Menaka, Kaloor, Edapally, Kalamassery);
Thevara-Aluva (Menaka, Edapally, Kalamassery, Mupathadam, Kadungaloor);
Aluva-Kumbalam North (Menaka, Vytilla, Kundanoor);

Ernakulam-Kumbalanghi-Kakkanad (Thopumpady, Perumpadaph);
Ernakulam-Mattancherry (Thopumpady, Menaka);
Thevara-Cheranaloor (Menaka, Edapally);
Thripunithura-Cheranaloor (Menaka, Chitoor);
Ernakulam-Kannamaly-Amritha Hospital (Thopumpady, Menaka, Kaloor, Edapally);
Thevara-Cooperative Medical College (Menaka, Edapally, HMT);
Ernakulam-Panangad-Kakkanad-Infopark (Padma, Vytilla, Kundanoor, Madavana);
Ernakulam-Kakkanad-Wellingdon Island (Menaka/Padma, Naval Base);
Thripunithura-Thripunithura circular (Eroor, Vennala, Alinchuvadu, Kaloor, Menaka)
Aluva-Manjummel-Thripunithura (Padma, Edapally, South Kalamassery, Glass Factory).

The Kerala Football team made into the prequarter of the Santhosh Trophy Tournament. Kerala beat Assam to reach the quarter.  In a must win match Kerala won with 5 goals angainst 2.  It was 2-1 for Kerala in the first half.  The self goal conceeded by Assam started the scoring sheet.  Justin, Sakeer, Bijesh and Subair scored for Kerala.

A brief history about the Mount Carmel Church – Chathiath

Fr. Matheus founded the church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Chathiath.
He opted to construct the church at Chathiath mainly for the following reasons (1) Chathiath was very near to Ernakulam which was the capital of the
Kingdom of Kochi and at the same time just outside the Dutch territory
where construction of any Catholic Religious institution was totally prohibited (2) The place was easily accessible as it was on river side (3) Compared to other nearby places this area had a very beautiful landscape. (4) Land for construction of the church was donated by the local Chieftain and landlord of Cheranelloor Sri Varekatt Kaimal.
Construction of the church was completed in 1673. The church has many specialities. This is the first Parish church constructed by Carmelite Missionaries in India. It was constructed in Corinthian style and is in the shape of a cross. Construction was done without any mechanical help. Walls were made using red stone with mortar of lime sand and locally made gums. The statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel installed in the Altar was brought from Spain. There were three Altars. Walls of the Altars and the roof carried beautiful paintings from biblical situations. There was a pulpit for giving sermons during Holy Mass. Unfortunately during the renovation and maintenance works, the two Altars on the sides, paintings, pulpit etc were removed.
Originally this parish had a very wide jurisdiction. Later on administration of the parish was decentralized and the following parishes were established.

1. St. John the Baptist Church, Palarivattom – 1849
2. St. Augustine’s Church, Moolampilly – 1875
3. St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Ponel – 1890
4. Little Flower Church, Pottakuzhy – 1926
5. St. Antony’s Church, Vaduthala – 1931
6. Holy Family Church, S. Chittoor – 1948
7. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Mamangalam – 1953

In spite of all these bifurcations, the parish of Chathiath retains the honour of being the largest parish in the Archdioceses of Verapoly.

The new look for the altar of Mount Carmel Church – Chathiath, Pachalam.

Indian cinema needs to do an honest introspection to improve its standards to match global productions and strive to produce strong scripts, Oscar awardee Resul Pookkutty said here on Wednesday.
“There is hardly any serious scriptwriting in our industry and this is why we are not as involved as should be in the global arena, Pookkutty said during the launch of director Leo Thaddeus’ upcoming movie ‘Payyans’.
Pookkutty expressed concern over the reluctance shown by Indian filmmakers to adopt technical advancements in the field of film making which was crippling the domestic films.
“It is high time we took up movie-making seriously. We must utilise our opportunities and take initiatives to make movies globally competitive,” he said.
Resul Pookkutty, who won the Oscar for sound engineering for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, said the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was keenly working on redefining entertainment, with 3D imaging being the landmark development. It is one field where the new generation of youngsters in the country have a great scope for making their mark at the world stage,” he said.
Denying reports on his debut as a director, Pookkutty said that at present he has no plans to shift profession.
“After Pazhassiraja, I will be doing sound engineering for one more Malayalam movie, a Mammootty-starrer, scheduled later this year,” he added.
“Winning the Oscar was a dream for me. But being one of its voting members is even bigger. This just goes to prove that no mountain is too high for us,” Pookkutty, who was recently extended an invitation by the Oscar Academy to join as a voting member,” he said