Metro Mart October 2016

METRO mart Volume 6 Issue 3

October 2016

`40

T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

KTM A Success Kerala The Ideal Destination KTM 2016 Achieves Newer Heights!

METRO

FOOD AWARDS www.metromartdaily.com Your Efficiency Recognized

Czarina’s exclusive collection of ethnic wear PROBLEM SOLVING THROUGH LOGICAL THINKING Creating a Culture October 2016 of Intrapreneurship

2

October 2016

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

For More Details Call us @ 9562076299 Or write us to info@ktinterserve.com www.yaathrikaholidays.com

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

Our commitment makes you slim, fit and beautiful RSARY

ANNIVEFER OF

Our Slimming Services l l l

UPTO

50%

Weight loss Spot reduction Inch loss

l l l

Skin tightening Body lifting Body rejuvenation

Our Beauty Services

DISCOUNT Terms & Conditions applied

l l

Under Eye treatment Acne treatment

Anti-Dandruff treatment l Anti-pigmentation l

Our Multi-Disciplinary Approaches l l l

AN

Medical consultation Physiotherapy Dietary services

l

Multi & cardiovascular gymnasium

8

ISO 9001:200 CERTIFIED CENTRE

Specialised SLIMMING PROGRAMMES for IT Professionals EXCLUSIVE FACILITY for GENTS & LADIES Thulasi Tower, Near Nippon Toyota, Bypass Road, Open Kazhakkuttom, Ph: 4067888, 8893938282

all SLIMMAX, Opp. Canara Bank, Pazhaya Rd, Medical College P.O, TVM days Ph: 0471-4068888, 2445518, 9633338282 4

METRO mart www.slimmax.co.in, www.facebook.com/smtrivandrum

October 2016

T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

Gurucharanam Saranam

www.metromartdaily.com +91 471 2419313, 8606083000, 8606084000

October 2016

www.metromartdaily.com

AN INNOVATIVE PROFESSIONAL

ONE STOP

Creative SOLUTION PROVIDER

| BRANDING | DESIGNING | PRINT-VISUAL PROMOTIONS | SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT | PROMOTIONAL SOUVENIR | CORPORATE GIFTING SOLUTIONS Official Media Partner KERALA TRAVEL MART 2016

Trivandrum | Kochi | Bangalore | Kolkata | PUNE

6

October 2016

Mera 44, Eanthivila Lane, Murinjapalam, Medical College P.O. Trivandrum – 695011, Kerala, India Ph: 0471 6566560, Mob: +91 9947733339, 9995139933 Email: metromart.tvm@gmail.com

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

8

October 2016

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

10

October 2016

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

Hi Readers This October issue of the Metro Mart Magazine is filled with all of its regular goodness along with just a sprinkle of Kerala’s own magic A mutual partnership of success is how one would define the 2016 collaboration between Metro Mart Magazine and Kerala Travel Meet society (KTM). Since Metro Mart was the official media partner for KTM, we bring you an exclusive and behind the scenes look at what went down and who was who at the grand three-day event. We are overwhelmed with the huge response and appreciation from all you people and not able to thank enough!

Foreword

Thanks to everyone for a successful KTM!

But we know that the country of Kerala is just as diverse as all of the different kinds of people who are reading our magazines. That is why we have featured a wide range of the various aspects of Keralian lifestyle. Featuring an exclusive from Czarina, we bring you a look at the latest ethnic collection. Wanted to try the tender coconut pancakes, which is a signature Keralian dish but never got the opportunity? Well, fret not because we have the recipe right for you! Want to visit the Mannarasala Temple? We have the full guide just for you!

Seriously, we have something for everyone in our October issue!

We thank you for your patronage, continuous support and wish to hear your feedback on every issue to make our edition interesting!

Happy reading!

Siji Nair Managing Editor & Director

Metro Mart being the official media partner performed a special edition program in the KTM event and was received beautifully by the generous crowd. The fact that people not only from the country but from all walks of life made it to the event – touched us!

https://www.facebook.com/sijicn https://twitter.com/sijicn www.linkedin.com/in/siji-nair www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

16

Projecting Kerala as the Ideal Destination

46

Problem Solving Through Logical Thinking

60

Mannarasala - the supreme place of worship of the serpent Gods

56

Mannarasala Ayilyam

mart Corporate Office:Metro Mart Thiruvananthapuram Mera 44, Eanthivila Lane, Murinjapalam, Medical College P.O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695011, Kerala, India

Volume 6 Issue 3 October 2016 www.metromartdaily.com Read our e-edition-www.issuu.com/metromart Annual Subscription Rs 400 C-507, Wisteria Fortune, Bhumkar Chowk Marunji Road Near New Poona Bakery, Wakad, Pune - 411057 India

Web: www.metromartdaily.com ; E magazine-http://issuu.com/metromart email: metromart.tvm@gmail.com • Contact-+0471 4015593/6566560/91-9947733339/9995139933 PUNE I BANGALORE I KOLKATA I KOCHI Published, Edited and Printed by Hari Shanker A G and Owned by Haritha Media Pvt Ltd and Printed by him at SB Press Private Limited, Statue, Trivandrum 695001 and Published from Tharangam, Kodunganoor Post, Trivandrum 695013. Metro Mart is a monthly journal published from Trivandrum. Views and opinions expressed in the journal are not necessarily those of the Publishers.Metro Mart reserves the right to use th e information published here in any manner whatsoever. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published in this edition, neither the Publisher no any of its employees October 2016 METRO mart accept any responsibilities for any errors or omissions. © All Rights Reserved RNI No: KERENG/2011/40037

12

T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

CO N TE N TS

Publisher Hari Shanker hari@martinfotech.in

Sub Editor V. Viswanath

Managing Editor & Director Siji Nair sijicn@gmail.com

Lead Creative Chetan Kumbhar

Editorial Assistant Ampili Nair Promod Pillai Business Development Manager Ratheesh Kumar

GM Sales Sibu Nair www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

14

October 2016

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

C OV E R S T OR Y

Projecting Kerala as the

Ideal Destination

KTM 2016 Achieves Newer Heights!

Contributing to Kerala tourism, Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) has achieved new heights of success. The event has been a companion of Kerala tourism in presenting Kerala as a land of rich heritage, culture and art that one must visit at least once. Introducing new heritage projects ,CSR initiatives and may more efforts taken by the KTM society and state government of Kerala have been part of the journey. Here is an account of what the success of KTM looks like.

16

October 2016

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), has been concluded as a great success. Since its inception in 2001, the event has catered as an itinerary of Kerala for tourists from all over the world. Elucidating Kerala’s surreal beauty, Resorts, Home stays, Houseboats, Ayurveda Resorts, cultural art centres and cuisine, KTM has been projecting Kerala as the ideal destination for vacation.

The KTM society runs in collaboration with the www.metromartdaily.com

Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of Kerala and hosts a grand event in two years during September. The success of KTM could be seen at its 9th edition this year, which was held from 28th to 30th September at Samudrika & Sagara Convention Centre.

A huge crowd gathered and explored the Samudrika and Sagara Convention in awe.

From trying their hand at archery with the traditional bow and handcrafted arrows at the ‘Responsible Tourism’ pavilion to taking

selfies from the jeep at the Kerala Tourism stall, visitors were spoilt for choice at the venue with an array of interactive activities.

There were about 265 seller stalls open at the venue. A virtual-reality experience offering 360 degree views of vistas around Kerala proved especially popular.

Besides being a fun outing, for many the trip was a chance to learn something new. The KTM, being the largest tourism industry conclave in the state and with ‘God’s Own Country’ October 2016

as its sole focus, was a onestop shop for everything in Kerala.

Mart received an overwhelming response as it witnessed around one lakh business meeting, both scheduled and unscheduled.Besides tourism and trade officials from Kerala and other neighbouring states, tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers, as well as owners of resorts, houseboats and home-stays participated in KTM 2016.With 265 stalls over an expansive venue, KTM 2016, saw registrations from 1,380 foreign and Indian delegates, showcased a wide array of products and services from across Kerala.

‘Responsible Tourism’ and ‘Muziris and Spice Route’ were the core themes of KTM 2016. Kerala tourism is all set to launch The Muziris Heritage Project and the

18

October 2016

Kochi Muziris Biennale making Kerala’s cultural and tourism potentially rich and effective. The largest heritage conservation project in India, done solely as a state government initiative, the Muziris Heritage Project, involves the renovation of ancient places of worship, old markets and buildings and the construction of museums, while preserving and resuscitating community life and livelihoods.

KTM aims to develop tourism by empowering the local community.

Hence, it has adopted the agenda nine CSR activity to promote ecofriendly and responsible tourism. The nine-point agenda for action calls for measures to tackle waste management, promote organic farming, efficient use of energy and extensive use of local produce and

products. Other key areas are rainwater harvesting, reducing the use of plastics and improving greenery.

KTM had also arranged post-Mart familiarisation tours that conveyed delegates to selected popular destinations around the state to give them a feel of Kerala by way of its heritage of art, culture and cuisine.

Last year Kerala earned 25000 crore from the tourism sector. The KTM envisions to generate an additional revenue of Rs. 5000 crore this year. A large scale participation from countries like Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Middle East, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Sweden and USA has encouraged KTM to focus on raising its quality and broaden the horizon of its services.

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

Snapshot@KTM

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

ON FACE

KTM 2016 has grown to International standards

Abraham George,President- Kerala Travel Mart The participation of quality buyers from new markets as well as the traditional markets has been recorded as the most successful business summit for our exhibitors. As far as the overall arrangements are concerned, the buyers expressed their happiness and remarked that KTM 2016 has grown to International standards. The members of the Organising Committee and the Secretariat worked hard for this success.

KTM stands different from

20

October 2016

all the other marts, even at a time when participation at marts, in general, is losing out. The unity and participation of the trade is the success of KTM and we should strive to improve in the coming marts.

To take KTM to the next level, we have adopted the KTM Charter Agenda – 9 as a C.S.R initiative which will be a turning point in the growth of Kerala tourism.

The new government is very supportive and we should all join

together to strengthen the empowerment of the community by implementing the KTM Charter Agenda – 9. All are requested to join in this movement by making a clean, healthy, and green community, and in turn, take Kerala Tourism to greater heights. The KTM Office will be distributing a copy each of the Charter Agenda – 9 Certificate among the members and I request you to exhibit the same at your premises.

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

COVER FEATURE

KTM 2016: Spicing up the inbound market Foreign tourists follow trail of spices to Kerala. Spice Tourism draws interest at Mart.

Much like the world came to Kerala in another age, a growing section of modernday travelers are making their way to ‘God’s Own Country’ in search of its spices.

‘Spice Tourism’—a subset of ‘Plantation Tourism’ – is a segment on the rise in the state.

coffee and tea, have buyers milling these booths.

“Guests can experience the entire process: they select the grains, pick the leaves, help in the pulping and grinding and, of course, taste the finished product in their food. They can even buy the packaged products in small luggage-friendly This is a trend reflected both packs to take back home,” at a number of stalls at the said the Director of two ongoing ninth edition of the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) here resorts – in Thekkady and Munnar – tapping into this and one of the Mart’s two themes: ‘Muziris and the Spice market.

Route’. Samples of cardamom, “At our 100-acre property nutmeg and pepper, besides

22

October 2016

in Thekkady, we grow coffee, pepper, cardamom and tea. We offer packages of two-four days for guests to participate in the plantation,” he said, adding that it was mostly foreign tourists from Germany, the UK, the Middle East and Australia who come specifically for this niche segment.

The story was similar at another stall representing a 140-year-old colonial bungalow set in Chulliyode, deep in the Western Ghats of Wayanad. The resort, spread over 200 acres, grows

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

coffee, pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and allspice.

“We see a surge in arrivals during the January to February pepper picking period. I would estimate about 99 per cent of these are from the UK with the rest from Germany, France and the Middle East. We also get domestic tourists from Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi,” said the resort’s owner.

“Guests can harvest the spices – whether it is picking them as with cardamom or stripping the bark as with cinnamon – and then participate in their processing on site,” he said, adding that the resort – a second-time participant at KTM – had seen a steady rise in inbound sales between the last Mart and KTM 2016.

The interest in spice is not restricted to large plantation properties alone.

Smaller farm properties are also benefitting from the phenomenon.

The two growing seasons of cardamom draw foreign tourists to a five-acre property in Pothamedu, Munnar. A particularly demanding spice, cardamom taxes both the

www.metromartdaily.com

soil and grower, but the property has seen steady rise in foreign tourist arrivals over the past five years.

“The foreign tourists usually arrive around the two harvesting seasons: September and end of January. The rest of the year, we usually get domestic tourists, but at these two periods around 60 per cent of our 30 rooms are occupied by overseas

visitors,” the resort manager.

“We instruct them in the techniques to pick the cardamom and they can help out on the farm,” he said, adding that the stall had received a significant amount of interest from both international and domestic buyers at the Mart.

October 2016

COVER FEATURE

KTM 2016: One Lakh Business Meetings over three days

Over the course of three highly productive days, KTM 2016, the ninth edition of the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), witnessed around one lakh business meetings – both scheduled and unscheduled.

KTM, the largest conclave of tourism stakeholders in

24

October 2016

the state and the only such gathering in India focusing on a single destination, saw 60,000 meetings over the first two days.

“As the final day was open to the public, there were around 40,000 unscheduled meetings held at the Mart.

Overall, the response from

the buyers and sellers has been overwhelming,” said KTM Society President Shri Abraham George, during a press briefing today at Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centre, Willingdon Island.

Besides tourism and trade officials from Kerala

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

and other neighbouring states, tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers, as well as owners of resorts, houseboats and home-stays participated in KTM 2016.

“The sellers had quality appointments with potential buyers during the Mart. Even the first-timers are excited as the platform helped them improve business volume,” Shri Abraham said.

With 265 stalls over an expansive venue, KTM 2016, which saw registrations from 1,380 foreign and Indian delegates, showcased a wide array of products and services from across Kerala. www.metromartdaily.com

KTM 2016 had as its core themes, ‘Responsible Tourism’ and ‘Muziris and Spice Route’.

“KTM aims to develop tourism by empowering the local community.

Hence, we adopted the agenda nine CSR activity to promote eco-friendly and responsible tourism,” Shri Abraham said.

The nine-point agenda for action calls for measures to tackle waste management, promote organic farming, efficient use of energy and extensive use of local produce and products.

Other key areas are rainwater harvesting,

reducing the use of plastics, and improving greenery.

KTM has also arranged postMart familiarisation tours that will convey delegates to selected popular destinations around the state to give them a feel of Kerala by way of its heritage of art, culture and cuisine.

The Mart’s valedictory function in the evening was attended by KTM Society President Shri Abraham George, Secretary Shri Jose Mathew, Treasurer Shri Jose Pradeep, and past presidents Shri Jose Dominic and Shri Riyas Ahamed.

October 2016

METRO UPDATE

Ethical tourism will ensure Kerala’s continued success: Suman Billa Seminar on Responsible Tourism at KTM

The future of the tourism business is “ethical” and that is the way for Kerala to stay ahead of the curve, said Shri Suman Billa,Joint Secretary,India Tourism at Kerala Tourism Mart’s Responsible Tourism seminar, at the Samudrika Convention Centre in Kochi.

as the state’s then tourism secretary. “As a destination, the way forward is to develop unique experiences by staying on the agenda of Responsible Tourism.”

Shri K. Rupesh Kumar is one of the initiators of the Responsible Tourism programme, when it was introduced in Kumarakom “Kerala has done so well in 2006. In the first phase, it because it can create experiences that are close to was started in Kumarakom, Thekkady, Vythiri and the earth,” said Shri Suman Kovalam, and later Billa,Joint Secretary,India Tourism who was instrumental Ambalavayal, Bekal and in promoting the Responsible Kumbalangi. Permissions are now in place to extend Tourism initiative in Kerala

26

October 2016

the programme to other destinations.

“We did a study on local purchases in Kumarakom and after eight years of starting the Responsible Tourism initiative, Rs 1.5 crore per annum in purchase orders were made in vegetables, dairy, eggs and other things,” said Rupesh, State Coordinator, Responsible Tourism. “We are generating Rs 4 crore income through responsible tourism initiatives in the seven destinations, and though it does not seem like much, it directly benefits the local community.”

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

METRO UPDATE

Revamping of Trivandrum’s Tourist Spots The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) of Trivandrum is mulling over facelifting some of Trivandrum’s tourist spots. The project launched to address the need to renovate will focus on cleanliness and facilities.

In the pursuit to turn the capital city, Trivandrum into a hot tourist destination, the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has arrived with a plan to revamp various destinations in the district.

28

October 2016

According to the plan charted out by DTPC, 10 popular tourist destinations in the city are to face major revisions as part of tourism Department’s ‘Green Carpet’ scheme.

The project aims to upgrade Trivandrum’s

tourist spots into world-class standards in terms of cleanliness and facilities.

The chosen destinations for the revamping are Kanakakunnu, Veli Tourist Village, Akkulam, Ponmudi, METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

Shankumugham, Varkala, cleanliness.

Kovalam, Kappil, Neyyar, With the intension to and Aruvikkara. make the entire district NSS volunteers, into a single tourist spot residents’ associations for both, domestic and and NGO’s will foreign tourists, many contribute to the other activities under mission by carrying the Green Carpet project out the cleaning will be conducted. These activities in these activities comprise, destinations. Missions scientific solid waste like Kudumbasree and management system, Suchitwa will be included well-maintained public toilets and tourist to ensure sustainable www.metromartdaily.com

facilities, facilities for safe drinking water and food and increased safety and security arrangements.

The project includes adoption of green principles and hiring trained and responsible staff. There will also be a feedback and complaint redressal system and specially designated destination managers to assist tourists.

October 2016

METRO UPDATE

Kerala:

Nat Geo’s ‘Around the World in 24 Hours’ Picturesque tiny island in ‘God’s Own Country’ among 24 world destinations

30

October 2016

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

Kakkathuruthu, a tiny spectacular island in Kerala’s tangled backwaters, finds place among select stunning destinations across the world that hold appeal to the adventurous traveller.

Nestled along the Kerala Coast, the emerald-fringed “Island of Crows” has been listed in National Geographic’s ‘Around the World in 24 Hours’, a photographic tour of travelworthy spots across the world.

“Kerala is known for its rustic beauty and an incredibly picturesque landscape, verdant hills and quiet backwaters, which attract tourists from across the world. It is a matter of pride for us to be listed by Nat Geo, which is among the leading magazines in the world,” said Kerala Tourism Minister A C Moideen.

The charm of the small island with sea green waters, lush coconut groves www.metromartdaily.com

and absence of tarred roads, located in Alappuzha, has been captured by the magazine photographers during the time of dusk when “the shadows lengthen and the sky shifts from pale blue to sapphire.”

In a graphic description, the magazine says the sunset in Kerala is greeted by a series of rituals — Sari-clad women head home in skiffs, fishermen light lamps and cast nets into the lagoon and bats swoop across the horizon snapping up moths.

among others, offering a peek into how different places in the world look like.

“The recognition is rewarding and will add to our efforts to introduce and showcase different destinations in the nature-endowed state,” said Principal Secretary (Tourism) Dr Venu V.

“If dawn is awakening and daytime illumination, then twilight is transcendence, a final burst of vitality before darkness falls,” said NatGeo Expeditions.

Situated not far from the ancient port city of Kochi, the island of Kakkathuruthu is connected to mainland only through traditional boats. The quiet island, surrounded by the Vembanad Lake, offers a haven for birdwatchers.

Beginning with hunting the aurora borealis in the northern lights zone in Norway at 12 am, the list includes photos of Hawaii at 5 am, Paris at 6 am, San Francisco at 7 am, Abu Dhabi at 8 am, Melbourne at 9 am, New York at 8 pm, Budapest (Hungary) at 10 pm and Kerala at 6 pm,

Kerala Tourism Director U V Jose said, “It is absolutely exhilarating to see the small island included in the travel recommendations. It is not only a reaffirmation of Kerala’s natural endowments but also a huge recommendation to international tourists for a tryst with the coastal state.”

October 2016

S HOP P I NG

Walk tall in

Czarina’s exclusive collection of ethnic wear

Czarina is all set to wow the city with a spell-binding display of apparels in vivid colors, fabrics and patterns. The expo will highlight the sheen beauty of Indian outfits, encouraging the concept of mixing and matching to give an innovative twist to ethnic apparels.

Czarina is a hub of sheer variety in fabrics, art and colors. It is one of the most awaited fashion expos of Trivandrum. It is the ultimate destination for those who like to keep it stylish. Czarina’s Mix and Match is an opportunity to explore your creativity with fabrics, colors and apparels and dazzle the world with your trendy looks.

32

October 2016

The expo offers a wide range of of kurtis, duppattas, leggings, palazzos, pants, churidars and salwars that lets you go boundless with

mixing and matching to look just perfectly unique.

You could experiment with colors and push the boundaries of shape and pattern. Pick items from

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

within the same color family like lilac, pinks and purples or coordinate with complimentary colors like blue/orange or red/green and wear the elegance your way.

Czarina’s collection is an absolute treat for the saree lovers as well. The collection includes an array of scintillating sareers like Kotas, Chanderis, Maheswaris, Banarasi Silks, Silk Kotas, Silk Cottons, Mangalagiris, Kanjeevarams, Uppadas, Tussar Silks, Georgettes, Crepes and Chiffons along with a selection of mesmerizing blouses with kalamkari print, indigo print, floral designs, embroidery and ikat print.

Mix ‘N’ Match Mania ends on October 22 and the store will remain open on all Sundays till then. Czarina is located at Catholic Center, on Statue-General Hospital Road. Those who want to know more about Mix ‘N’ Match Mania can visit Czarina’s Facebook page http:// www.facebook.com/ CzarinaDesignerSarees or call 9387721322. www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

D I N I N G

Karikku Dosa or Tender Coconut Pancake Karikk Dosa or Tender Coconut Pancake is a delicious and healthy breakfast dishpopular in Kerala homes.

Ingredients Soaked Rice – 3 cups Tender Coconut Water – 1 cup Salt – to taste

Grated Tender Coconut – 2 cups Sugar – 2 tbsp

Method of Preparation Drain water from the soaked rice and put it in a grinding jar. Now add the grated coconut and tender coconut water, grind the mixture to get a consistent batter. Mix in salt and sugar.

Once the batter is ready, heat a dosa pan/tawa. Pour a few drops of oil to grease the pan, that will prevent

34

October 2016

the dosa from sticking to the surface of the pan.

Now pour some of the dosa batter onto it and close it with a lid. Wait for a few seconds, open the lid and turn over the dosa. The tasty Karikk Dosa is ready.

Serve hot with your favourite chutney.

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

EVENT SCAN

Alpashi Utsavam

Event date: 07-11-2016

Venue: Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Location: East Fort District: Thiruvananthapuram

Alpashi is one of the major festivals of the famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.

An annual ritual in the Malayalam month of Thulam, which roughly corresponds to the months of October / November, this festival

attracts devotees from near and far. One of the enchanting events during the festival is the aarattu ceremonythe holy bath in the sea for the deitieswhere the aarattu procession proceeds to Shanghumugham from the temple. The head of the Travancore royal

family will escort the procession bearing a sword. The procession comprises magnificently decorated elephants, mounted police and columns of armed police. Thousands of devotees will throng both sides of the path to view the procession.

Getting there Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 1 km Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 6 km

36

October 2016

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

TRAINING

Creating a Culture of Intrapreneurship Professionals with an entrepreneurial mind-set can boost innovation and increase profitability. They infuse creative energy so that every employee — and the company culture as a whole — can benefit.

Pavan Sriram pavan@ittige.com

Intrapreneurship is when employees have an entrepreneurial spirit internally. It’s as if each employee is running his or her own business. They can do it on their own or within their department. It’s all about having a good system in place.

Intrapreneurs have the

same spirit and drive that entrepreneurs have, but instead put it to use for their employer by looking for problems to solve and new markets to enter, and using their own initiative to create the solution and run with it. The major difference between the two is that the organization is

the one who wins or loses, depending on the individual’s success, while the individual gets the experience of entrepreneurship without personal risk.

Forbes explains that “intrapreneurship” implies a change in corporate cultures.

Ownership and

Intrapreneurs channel inventive thinking to promote growth and encourage change within their organizations.

38

October 2016

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

How organisations can foster Intrapreneurship ? accountability, results instead of compliance, agility and risk acceptance are the new values, and complement the reporting systems, job descriptions and control mechanisms of traditional cultures The Sony PlayStation: An intrapreneurship story (excerpts) Ken Kutaragi was working in the sound labs in 1975 at Sony Corporation negotiated to keep his job at Sony, while working as an outside consultant www.metromartdaily.com

(entrepreneur) for Nintendo on their computer gaming devices, having seen the market and business opportunity of computer gaming systems. After Ken’s success as a consultant to Nintendo in developing a CD-ROM based system, Chairman Ohga personally recognized the value of Ken’s creativity and entrepreneurial spirit and backed Ken’s corporate entrepreneurial (intrepreneurial) venture by investing $2.5 billion

into the PlayStation start-up that by 1998, the business was providing 40% of Sony Corporation’s operating profits and has gone on to build over 70% of the home-video-gameconsole international market share.

In her book “The Shift: The Future of Work is already here”, Lynda Gratton points out that employees want to do meaningful work and be more connected to the business. Consequently, management can play a leading role in building October 2016

an “intrepreneurial” culture by introducing networking platforms, mentoring channels, allowing time for new projects and providing incentives to innovative employees.

So if you want to be an influencer or even a role model for intrapreneurship, here are six things you can do to have others demonstrate that behaviour:1. Think out of the box: Don’t rely on proven methods. Be innovative in the way you deal with business opportunities, competition, price pressure, clients etc.

Be a role model for collaboration and avoid departmental egoism!

2. Push for a transparent decisionmaking process: Opportunities for new possibilities too often stay hidden in people’s brains because corporate structures do not support pioneering.

Give your people the green light and support them. Be inclusive and encourage everyone to contribute ideas if they

40

October 2016

have them. Build value across the workforce!

3. Empower people to make decisions which have an impact on their work: Hold them accountable for what happens next. If you want your employees to act like entrepreneurs, you should treat them like entrepreneurs!

4. Accept faults: Accept setbacks or failures in innovative projects and develop a kind of “safety net” for yourself and employees in order to reduce personal risk to an acceptable level.

5. Be persistent: “Entrepreneurs are committed and won’t easily give up on their ideas. In addition to being able to engage others, they are able to create a movement around their idea,” Leaders should not separate passion, creativity and logic from each other. You should work closely with others and inspire them with your passion and perseverance.

6. Recognise and Reward “intrepreneurial”

behaviour: Rewards and encouragement lead to greater contributions and creativity within the company. If your employees profit from the success of an idea, they will be much more motivated to contribute their own ideas.

Don’t ignore the signs of intrapreneurs. Find the gold in your ranks and let it shine. Give them freedom to make choices and see things through to the next level.

I look forward to hear from you at pavan@ittige.com on how organisations and leaders like you are following the principle of disciplined entrepreneurship by giving people the necessary freedom to work on new opportunities and challenges Pavan Sriram is the CEO of ITTIGE Learning, a performance-based training company that works with organisations to improve learning outcomes. www.ittige.com METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

Build for Needs; Yet with Taste One of the pleasant surprises in the real estate scenario this year, which would have buoyant implications in future to come, was the Smart City project announced early this year by the Central Government.

State-of-art modes of sanitation and waste treatment; uninterrupted power supply; easy connectivity via Wi-Fi etc. would reasonably increase investment that would accelerate demand for property in the cities enlisted under the scheme. From among the cities of Kerala, Kochi was chosen for the scheme. The metro rail project, which is now under way and has got fillip in the budgetary allocation of the recently elected Left dispensation of the Kerala state, and some other rural-pronged initiatives in the city tipped the scales in Kochi's favour.

What effect the project would have in the realtor sector is predictably clear. Rather than in the micro level of individual and familial property buying, the project as well as the thrust of both Central and state dispensations on corporate service economy would boost up demands for commercial properties, for, to be specific, office spaces and malls. This demand would not be expected to be restricted well within the cities that got budgetary and policy blessings. All major cities in almost all states in the country would strive to become smarter than ever. But all our attempts to be smart might, if not properly thought out, tumble down. One has to be so cautious as not to be oversmart

42

October 2016

Shahir Esmail CEO Three seas infologics(P) Ltd In this rapidly transformative scenario, the real estate catchword has turned out to become "Built-to-Suite." That is, the new entrepreneurs would be hardly interested in investing in real estate itself. They would be less likely to own spots, but would occupy them for the time being. Many reasons can be cited for this trend. Firstly, despite promises of Foreign Direct Investment with the new dispensation at Centre two years ago, land prices did not shoot up. This did not heighten property buying, either, on account of expectations of prices getting dearer and dearer.

Foreign investors don't come here to buy properties, as the country does not offer longstanding business potentials. They are interested in carpe diem, i.e in making the most of business friendly atmosphere now extent and possibly soon fading out in the event of populism-demanding elections in the country. Also, labour stringency associated with the country's socialist past might dampen soaring corporate expectations. So, to rent offices rather than buying them would be the order of the day. But property owners who are waiting for a windfall in terms of rentals should not delude themselves by thinking that their only job would be to portion out their property and to appear every month with cash bags. They have the responsibility to build offices to suit the needs of their would be tenants. Yes, BTS (Built-to-suite) offices would set the conditions of real estate business in future to come.

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

As per definition, build to suit is the mode of leasing or renting property for mostly commercial purposes in which the owner of the property builds offices or develop the property to a tenant's specifications. The landowner pays for the construction to the specifications of the tenant. Build to suit is preferred by tenants who wish to occupy a building of a certain type but do not wish to own the same.

The challenge before the property owners would be to take a pro-active role in the now buoyant business atmosphere. They would have to know what would be required by the customers for a good-looking office. Also they would have to ensure amenities and facilities in it. An interruption of power supply, for instance, would surely spoil the mood. So s/he must have a list of service providers who would ensure the smooth functioning of the office. If the process is managed professionally, the advantage would be higher and the rental would double. Also, real estate entrepreneurship in that direction would heighten the value of the property and the area. The role of real estate dealers, especially online portals like us, would be more helpful in this regard. They can evaluate the potential of the space for future residential and commercial requirements and build the spot as per the needs that come up. BTS would be an easier process to handle by companies and expert agents who have been doing well in the business for much too long.

But entrepreneurial calculations should not override aesthetic considerations.

That is, rather than adopting or aping corporate office models that are rampant the world over, we have to consider office spaces surrounded by, say, greenish extensions. What would be more soothing than working under a deodar that grows in the inner courtyard of the office complex?

Or what if there is a natural botanical garden situated in the sprawling technical park of the city? Our concept of the urban space would reflect the ethos of the cultural unit in our state. For that to happen, entrepreneurship should definitely meet aesthetics. Our property, residence and the commercial complex we are dreaming of should contribute to that aesthetics in more imaginative and creative ways. Real estate is not merely buying and selling. It is developing property for aesthetically appealing urban space.

When the whole world is facing existential crises in the form of global warming, the kind of philosophy Indiana promote about co-existence with nature should reflect our real estate choices.

www.nbook.in

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

METRO EVENT

Metro Food Awards 2016 Finger licking Recognition Is the food scrumptious or the awards? It’s both actually and it has to be.

That’s because Metro Mart, the pulse of Kerala brings you the juiciest thing for the mind, heart and bellies, Metro Mart Food Awards - 2016. It is a food award ceremony slated to happen on 7 th December this year at Mascot Hotel, Trivandrum.

around Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala.

The supporting partners of Metro Food Awards include Kerala Tourism, KTDC and South Kerala Hotelier’s Forum(SKHF).

The hospitality partner is Mascot Hotel and tourism partners are but obvious Kerala (God’s Own Country).

The event organised by the magazine Metro Mart, is being done to recognise the efforts made by the restaurants in and

The food business particularly restaurants was going low on the recognition front.

This was due to many factors such as lack of

44

October 2016

Event Profile

METRO

FOOD AWARDS Your Efficiency Recognized

professionalism and dynamism on the part of food restaurant.

However, there comes a time in life when the good showing their workmanship needs to be duly rewarded for their acumen and skills. This time, the diners shall be voting and acknowledging the efforts made by experts in the culinary field who have rendered good food and good dining experience.

Metro Food Awards 2016 does not happen to be an event of ordinary METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

Business category. It is a podium that shall recognise the culinary business and aid in brand building. Being the first of its kind in the Trivandrum city, Metro Food Awards – 2016 will be setting a benchmark in recognising the performing restaurants.

A big challenge it is when it comes to evaluating the top restaurants and food joints in the city of Trivandrum, and recommending the same to the public to vote for their favourite eating venue.

Any award function puts up competing participants in the best spirit and tone so that it becomes a reference point in future award ceremonies. That’s the www.metromartdaily.com

same at Trivandrum Award Summit where Metro Food Awards - 2016 would be an apt platform for the participants to showcase their potential and worth in appeasing the palate of the consumers who like to taste perfection.

catering to the public till the time the awards are announced.

Award Selection Criteria

c. The food establishment should be having all appropriate food licences and clearances that are a must from the government authorities.

The entry level requirements for filing in the nomination for Metro Food Awards 2016 are fairly easy to follow and adhere to.

d. The food prepared and delivered to the customers at the participating restaurants should be hygienic at all costs.

a. The food establishment should be based within the city of Trivandrum. b. At the time of filing the nomination for the awards, the restaurant should be open and

For Registration and Trade Enquiries, contact +91-9947733339 and +91-9995139933 For Online registration -http://www metrofoodawards.com October 2016

TRAINING

PROBLEM SOLVING THROUGH LOGICAL THINKING

N.VIJAYAGOPALAN

Logical thinking is a faculty which has utmost significance in today’s complex world. Logical thinking is the process in which one uses reasoning consistently to come to a conclusion. Problems

46

October 2016

or situations that involve logical thinking call for structure, for relationships between facts, and for chains of reasoning that “make sense. In his book ‘Brain Building’, Dr Karl Albrecht says that the basis

of all logical thinking is sequential thought. This process involves taking the important ideas, facts, and conclusions involved in a problem and arranging them in a chain-like progression that takes on

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

a meaning in and of itself.

To think logically is to think in steps.

Whether it is the academic environment or work environment or one’s day to day life, logical thinking has assumed utmost importance in finding plausible solutions to issues and problems. How fast an issue or a problem gets resolved and how effective the solution is depend on the faculty of logical thinking possessed and applied by those facing the problem. No wonder that in the recent times job recruiters are attaching topmost priority to the logical thinking ability of candidates by adopting several techniques in the written test and the interview. In all competitive examinations, questions to assess the logical thinking ability have a predominant part.

The significance of logical thinking and its unquantifiable impact can be illustrated by an interesting story. This is in fact a real incident. The President of the Pontiac Division of the automobile giant General Motors received a complaint from one of their customers.

The customer complained that despite writing twice earlier, the company did not redress his complaint, www.metromartdaily.com

though he admitted that he sounded crazy. The customer had the habit of buying ice cream of a distinct flavour regularly for his family for using as a dessert after dinner each night. He used to drive down to the store to get the ice cream. He had recently purchased a new Pontiac and since then his trips to the store have created a problem. Every time he bought a vanilla ice cream, when he returned from the store his car would not start! If he bought ice cream of any other flavour, the car started just fine. He wanted to know what was there about a Pontiac that made it not start when he got vanilla ice cream, and easy to start whenever he got any other kind.

The Pontiac President was bewildered but understandably skeptical about the letter. But he sent a smart Engineer to check it out anyway. The Engineer drove to the ice cream store along with the customer on three consecutive nights to check for himself the veracity of the experience narrated by the customer and on each occasion, an ice cream of a different flavour was bought. On the first occasion, it was vanilla ice cream, and when they came back to the car, it did not start. The second night, they got chocolate

ice cream and the car started. The third night, he got strawberry flavour ice cream and the car started.

The fourth night he again ordered vanilla and the car failed to start, when they returned. What an enigma?!

The Engineer, being a logical man, refused to believe that this man’s car was allergic to vanilla ice cream. He arranged to continue his visits for as long as it took to solve the problem. And towards this end, he began to take notes. He jotted down all sorts of data. In a short time, he had a clue that the man took less time to buy vanilla than any other flavor, because vanilla being the most popular flavor, vanilla ice cream was kept in a separate freezer at the front of the store for quick pickup. Ice creams of all the other flavors were kept in the back of the store at a different counter, where it took considerably longer time for customers to buy those flavours.

Now, the question for the Engineer was why the car wouldn’t start when it took less time for the customer to return. He inferred that the problem rested in the time taken to return to the car and start it and not on the vanilla flavour. The Engineer quickly came up with the answer - vapour lock! The October 2016

extra time taken to get ice creams of the other flavors allowed the engine to cool down sufficiently to start. When the man got vanilla ice cream, he was able to return to the car quicker and the engine was still too hot for the vapour lock to dissipate.

That was the reason why the car wouldn’t start. The Company aptly rewarded the Engineer with an immediate promotion for his ingenuity and application of logical analysis.

The moral of this real story is this. Even crazy looking

48

October 2016

problems are sometimes real; all problems seem to be simple only when we find the solution with a cool and logical thinking.

For a problem like the one described above, no solution can be reached without applying logical thinking.

It has been proven that specific training in logical thinking processes can make people “smarter.”

Logical thinking allows a child to reject quick answers, such as “I don’t know,” or “this is too difficult,” by empowering them to delve deeper into

their thinking processes and understand better the methods used to arrive at a solution and even the solution itself.

Thus in today’s world it would pay rich dividends if individuals take conscious efforts to acquire and develop the faculty of logical thinking through consistent efforts and practice and also applies it whenever the situation demands so. Logical thinking ability greatly enhances the employability quotient of job seekers.

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

FESTIVAL

Mannarasala - the divine abode of Naga Dieties Though the legends related to the origin of a place cannot be deemed as its history, the story on the evolution of Mannarasala as the supreme place of worship of the serpent Gods is associated with Parasurama, the creator of Kerala.

The Raising of Kerala: Sree Parasurama decided to seek release from the sin of killing the Kshathrias.

He approached the holy Rishis. They suggested that he should make a gift of a land of his own to the Brahmins. Parasurama, the son of Bhrigu, propitiated Varuna Deva (the Lord of the Seas) to get some land for himself. He threw

50

October 2016 September November 2013 2013

into the sea the axe which Paramasiva had given him with his blessings. Thus he raised the land from the sea and gave it as a gift to the Brahmins according to the rules. This land came to be known as Kerala. That piece of land was not habitable because of the salinity. Not even vegetables grew there.

People began to leave the place. Bharghavarama

was pained at this. He undertook penance to please Lord Siva, who advised him that the objective could be realized only if the flaming poison of the serpents was spread everywhere and that the only means of doing that was the worship of Nagaraja.

Parasurama, a Yogi, firm of will and above all desire,

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

decided that he would take no rest until he saw Kerala come up as a land of evergreen beauty full of trees and plants, prosperous in every way. He set out with his disciples in search of a deserted jungle in order to please Nagaraja who was inaccessible and beyond anybody’s understanding. He found a suitable place near the seashore in the southern part of Kerala. Satisfied with having found a proper place for the realization of his cherished dream, the great Rishi constructed a Thirthasthala for the performance of penance.

Bharghavarama, a partial incarnation of Lord Vishnu, had to undertake very severe penance.

Nagaraja makes his appearance Nagaraja, who was

www.metromartdaily.com

pleased, appeared before Parasurama, willing to grant him his desire. According to the poem by Mannarasala M.G.Narayanan Namboodiri, the Nagaraja made his appearance as if : “ The unspeakable splendor of millions of moons!

The bright magnificence of emeralds stuck to the hoods. Golden jewels made attractive by miraculous embroidery! Lotus feet worshipped by crowds of Gods! Brilliant beauty of form, full of youthfulness!”.

Parasurama prostrated at the lotus feet of Nagaraja and prayed to realize his objective. Nagaraja granted his request with great pleasure. Ferocious serpents arrived at the spot at once to spread the flaming Kalakuda poison.

Because of the percolation of poison, the land of Kerala

was desalinated, to become habitable with envious greenery.

Parasurama then requested the Lord to bless the land forever with his eternal presence, and that was also accepted by the kindlydisposed Nagaraja.

Installation At a very auspicious moment Bhargavarama, the supreme devotee, installed, according to Vedic rites, Nagaraja, who is Brahma, Vishnu and Siva in one in the ‘Thirthasthala’ (Hall of pilgrimage) filled with Mandara trees, the place now known as Mannarasala. (The installed deity here represents Anantha (Vishnuswaroopa) and Vasuki (Siva in spirit).

The installations of

October 2016

Sarpayakshi, Nagayakshi and Nagachamundi, the Naga deities, as well as of their associates were conducted in the proper places with the proper rituals.

Parasurama performed to the accompaniment of Vedic recitation and singing of Sama, Abhishekam, Alankaram, Neivedyasamarpanam, Neeranjanam, Sarpabali and other rites pleasing to the serpents and thereby made all the serpents happy.

Parasurama brought learned people from other religions; installed Durga and other deities in different places; appointed Brahmins who were Thanthric experts for performing poojas; nominated Kshathrias, peasants and the Ashtavaidyas who were supreme among the physicians; thus he

52

October 2016

brought Kerala, filled with beautiful vegetation and to prosperity.

After giving important instructions to be followed to preserve the sanctity of the place, Parasurama left to do tapas on Mahendra Mountains.

Vasudeva & Sreedevi Many generations passed by. The family fell into the grief of childlessness.

Vasudeva and Sreedevi were the sad couple who had to bear that heavy load of sorrow, who resolutely worshipped Nagaraja to allay their grief.

It was about this time that unexpectedly fire broke out in the jungle around the dwelling place of Nagaraja and burnt down the jungle.

The serpents were tortured by the flames, forcing them to hide in their pits with great difficulty.

Vasudeva and Sreedevi looked after the serpents, who had their hoods charred, bodies half-burnt, and fainting from time to time, falling down and crawling along. They gently fanned them with fans made of sweet-scented grass and poured ghee mixed with honey and oil on the wounds; cooled their melted bodies with sandalwood ointment; and comforted them. They put them at the foot of banyan trees. They performed purification ceremonies and consecrated the pits; and were put up in special places under the shade of deodar trees and in Chitrakudas.

The couple performed abhisheka with thirtha like Panchagavya (a holy mixture of five items from the cow’s milk, curd, butter, urine and dung); observed elaborate poojas according to rules with areca nut

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

flower bunches, fragrant flowers and water, incense etc., Nivedyam with melted butter (ghee), milk, payasam with molasses, rice powder, turmeric powder, coconut juice, Kadali fruit, cow’s milk, all mixed together in the proper form as Nurum Palum, equivalent to the elixir of life. They offered serpent deities with great devotion, appam, aval (beaten rice or rice wafers), tender coconut etc. They chanted vedic mantras, performed circumambulation and performed all kinds of poojas to restore those crowds of serpents to full health.

The omnipresent and omnipotent Nagaraja was greatly pleased with their continuous penance and the love shown to his associates; Nagaraja made himself visible to the couple and blessed them that he would incarnate on the earth as their beloved son.

He said “ I shall assume the form of a serpent and stay here (in Mannarasala) permanently, as long as the sun and the moon are there, showering prosperity on your family and granting protection to www.metromartdaily.com

all the devotees who come here …”.

Thus Mandarasala, the place filled with Mandara trees, the holy spot where the serpents got shelter, where the earth was fully cooled, became Mandarasala.

The boon came true. The Brahmin lady became pregnant and gave birth to five-hooded serpentchild as well as a human child. The two brothers grew up together. Initiation ceremonies and Vedic education were carried out at the proper time in the traditional style.

Nagaraja instructed the younger brother to enter into matrimony for the perpetual reservation of the holy family and he obeyed it. When the fivehooded Nagaraja realized that the objectives of his incarnation were realized, he informed the Holy Mother that henceforth he would live at this Illam by entering into Samadhi to bless the devotees. Then he suggested certain inviolable rituals and rules for offering worship and then went into the immaculate cellar and vanished.

(It is believed that even today that five-hooded

Nagaraja stays in the cellar doing Tapas for the abound prosperity of his dependents. The members of the household always refer to him with great respect and devotion as “Muthassan’ and “Appoppan” (Grand father). The jungle close by is the exclusive preserve for his unobstructed peregrinations (Appoppan Kavu - Grandfathers’ Grove).

Mannarasala celebrations The Ayilyam day in Tulam, Kanni and Kumbham months in the Malayalam calendar and the Mahasivarathri are celebrated here with great pomp. The Ayilyam in Kanni is the birthday of Nagaraja and that in Kumbham is the birthday of Anantha, the Muthassan of Nilavara (cellar).

Mannarasala Ayilyam The most celebrated festival at Mannarasala is the Ayilyam of Thulam. In the beginning, the Ayilyam of Thulam had no speciality or importance. It was a regular custom for the Maharaja of Travancore to visit this temple on Ayilyam day in Kanni. On one occasion, the Maharaja could not reach the temple as usual and had to postpone the October 2016

visit to the Ayilyam day in Thulam. The royal palace met all the expenses for the celebrations of that Ayilyam.Several landed properties were given away to the temple free of land tax in order to make the festival more attractive, as an expression of repentance. Thus the Ayilyam of Thulam came to secure a royal splendor and official glamour without difficulty. The Ayilyam days of Kanni and Kumbham are still celebrated with befitting grandeur.

Mannarasala Temple Timings Valia Amma has a special pattern of pooja everyday, and she must perform pooja in the sanctum sanctorum itself on certain days like :-

54

October 2016

• On the first day of every month, Malayalam calendar

Location-

• On the day of Pooyam star each month, Malayalam calendar.

Haripad, 32 km south

• From the beginning of Magha to the eve of Sivaratri.

from Cochin International

• Thiruvonam in the month of Chingam.

• From the 1st to the `12th of Karkitakam.

• Twelve days before Ayilyam in Kanni and Tulam.

• On the Ayilyam day of every month: the special Nurum Palum in front of Nilavara at the Illam.

• On Sivaratri day; Sarpabali in the temple.

It is located near ofAlappuzha,14km from kayamkulam,115 km Airport and 125 km from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Kerala. In this temple, the rites are presided over by a priestess. The temple covers an area of 16 acres of dense green forest grove. The two main idols are Nagaraja or the serpent king and his consort, Sarpayakshini.

The most popular offering of this temple is ‘Uruli Kamazhthal’, the placing of a bell metal vessel upside down in front of the deity,

• On the day after Sivaratri:

which is believed to restore

Nurum Palum in Nilavara

fertility to childless couples.

and Appooppan Kavu.

Mannarasala

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

BLESSED IN TRADITIONAL PURITY AND FAITH

MANNARASALA Mannarasala Temple is the divine abode where Anantha (on whom reclines Lord Vishnu, the cosmic consciousness), and Vasuki, the snake that adorns Lord Shiva, reside in the Shaiva-Vaishnava concept of Advaita protecting and showering their blessings on the universe. The rituals at the temple are varied and unique.

Bestowing blessings upon crores of devotee s, Lord Anantha dwells as an immortal embodi ment in the nilavara (cellar) of the Manna rasala Illom, the ancest ral house of the priests’ family, and as the ser pent God Vasuki, inst alled by Lo rd Parasur ama in the sanctum sanctorum of the tem ple.

The Ayily am asterism, sacred to the Nagaraja, is celebrated every year as per tradition. This year ’s Mannarasala Ayilyam celebrations will commence on October 22 and conclude on the Ayilyam asterism that falls on October 24.

Naga worship is one of mankind’s oldest practices, but it holds relevance even today. What drives this belief is the realisation that destruction of the sacred groves and ponds associated with Naga worship would threaten the very

AYILYAM

existence of humanity. Mannarasala offers an experience of worship inter wined with Nature.

The rituals practised as part of worship here encompass a realm different from that of other temples. All the special offerings emphasise the value and greatness of mother-son relationship. The major rituals and important ‘poojas’ at the tem ple are performed by the chief pries tess ‘Valiya mma,’ the senior mo st lady of the Illom.

Legend has it that in Dwapara Yuga, plea sed by the care offer ed by a chi ldless mot her, the Na garaja Him self took birth as her son. Child less couples who visit the temple and make offerings are blessed by the Nagaraja to have children.

‘Uruli kamazhthal’ (placing a bronze vessel with its mouth down) is a popular offering made by childless couples, at the temple.

Nilavara payasam is the offering made to the grand sire serpent dwelled in the Nilavara.

Other offerings include Noorum Palum, Palpayasam, Palum Pazhavum Nivedyam, and Archanas. Small serpent idols made in gold, silver, copper, iron and zinc efflore scence of the arecanut palm; tender coconut; turmeric; and salt can also be offered in the temple.

MANAGER MANNARASALA SREE NAGARAJA KSHETHRAM

MANNARASALA PO, HARIPAD, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT www.metromartdaily.com October 2016 Ph: 0479-2413214, 2160300, web: mannarasala.org Guest House : MANDARAM Ph: 0479-2417662, 2417663.

Mannarasala Ayilyam

Event date: 24-10-2016

Venue: Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple Location: Harippad District: Alappuzha Mannarassala Ayilyam is one of the major festivals in the Mannarassala Sree Nagaraja Temple, a unique temple dedicated to serpent Gods with over 30,000 images of snakes along the paths and even among trees.

The major festival in this serpent shrine is the Ayilyam festival that falls on the Ayilyam asterism in the Malayalam month of Thulam, which

roughly corresponds to the months of October / November. The festival which sees thousands of devotees visiting the temple from far and wide is celebrated with much grandeur.

One of the major highlights of the festival is the ceremonial procession in which all the serpent idols in the temple and the sacred grove are taken to the

illam (the Brahmin ancestral home) that manages the temple.

Unlike other temples, here the head priest is a woman. The chief priestess will carry the idol of Nagaraja, which is the presiding deity of the temple. Special prayers and offerings are performed at the illam.

For more details, visit: www.mannarasala.org

Getting there Nearest railway station: Harippad, about 3 km Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 115 km

56

October 2016

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

Cake Mixing Ceremony@ UDS,Kovalam

The event was well attended by senior officials from the Airport Authority, Airline, Travel & Tourism fraternity along with the in-house guests & Staff.

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

AWARD

HLL awarded top exporter in Kerala by FIEO Gets gold category honour for excellence in Southern Region

HLL Lifecare Ltd (HLL) has been awarded Regional Export Award under the category of the Top exporter in Kerala (Gold) by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations – Southern Region (FIEO, SR).

The award was received

by Mr Rajasekhar, HLL VP (Marketing) from the Union Minister for Commerce Ms Nirmala Sitaraman during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of FIEO held at the Hotel Le Royal Meridian in Guindy, Chennai recently.

HLL, a Public Sector Enterprise under the Union Ministry of Family

58

October 2016

and Health Welfare, headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, manufactures and markets a range of health care products including contraceptives such as condoms, intrauterine devices, oral and emergency pills and blood collection bags, auto disable syringes, vitro-diagnostic test kits, shunts and sanitary napkins.

“We are delighted for being recognised for our export contribution. This honour will encourage us to enhance our global reach,” Mr Rajasekhar said Earlier this year, HLL

had bagged its first bulk orders for supply of over 1.3 million pieces of its signature female condoms to three countries — Gambia and Burkina Faso in Africa and the Dominican Republic in Caribbean Islands. Major export markets for the company are Africa and Latin America.

HLL has reported exports turnover of Rs 130 crores for the year 2015-16.

The company exports Moods condoms to 68 countries and exports its blood bags to 50 countries.

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

METRO UPDATE

GST awareness workshop’ talks about ease of doing business A transparent, credible, easier single taxation system

“When the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is made applicable, it will bring the whole of India under one common market, and make inter-state transactions easier; we are in a momentous time,” Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) Shri Paul Antony said He made this observation

60

October 2016

during his inaugural address at a GST awareness workshop, organised by the Department of Industries & Commerce in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in the capital.

“FICCI and all stakeholders should get involved in the

processes and bring out the potential of the GST and be aptly prepared for it,” he said, comparing it to the moment when the VAT was first introduced in April 2005. “But then the states took over and we continued to be divided as in the days of the Service Tax. If the GST is successfully implemented,

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

all interpretational issues in inter-state transactions will be over.”

The GST, which has already been approved by the President of India, is scheduled to be implemented across the country from April 1, 2017.

It replaces all indirect taxes levied on goods and services by the Centre and states, making for a single, easier taxation system.

There are 60,000 Central Excise and Customs and state government officers who will be trained for the switch to GST, a tax system practised in 160 countries.

Described as a system that will create transparency and credibility, the GST is expected to cut out a lot of bureaucracy, with the plethora of Central and state taxes making way for a

www.metromartdaily.com

single tax, noted Industries & Commerce Director Shri P M Francis. “Businessmen will feel greatly relieved, as they will have to interact at only a single point,” he said.

The GST will hopefully prompt Kerala to move from a consumer state to a manufacturer state, said Shri Pullela Nageswara Rao, Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, Customs and Service Tax, Kerala.

The GST is a destinationbased tax on consumption and 80 per cent of the state’s taxes are on consumption, noted Shri Rao, who was speaking at the workshop. “Do not sit with a single product,” he advised the industrialists at the event. “Diversification can protect your business in case one service has to be phased out.”

The GST single taxation system will increase ease of doing business, pointed out Shri Deepak L Aswani of the FICCI Kerala State Council. “This will be a significant step with the benefits passed on to the consumer,” he said.

Shri V Rajagopal, CEO of K-BIP, Shri Sachin Menon, FICCI Co-Chair GST & Partner and Head of Indirect Tax at KPMG, Smt Bhavna Doshi, Senior Indirect Tax Adviser at KPMG, Shri Savit Gopal, Indirect Tax specialist, Shri Ashwin Kelkar, Partner at KPMG, Shri S V Sukumar, Partner and Head of Strategy & Operations at KPMG and Shri Savio Mathew, Head of FICCI Kerala State Council, also spoke at the workshop.

October 2016

FOCUS EVENT

Kerala to showcase manufacturing strength at ‘VYAPAR 2017’ Chief Minister unveils brand and logo for February B2B meet

Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan releasing the official logo of ‘Vyaapar 2017’ by presenting it to Additional Chief Secretary, Kerala Industries Department Shri Paul Antony. Special Secretary Industries Department Shri Sanjay Kaul, Managing Director Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Dr.M.Beena, Director Kerala State Industries and Commerce Shri PM Francis, and K-BIP CEO Shri V.Rajagopal are also seen.

Products and technologies from Kerala’s key manufacturing sectors will be showcased to potential buyers at a major Business-toBusiness interaction –

62

October 2016

which Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan formally introduced as the “Vyapar 2017” meet – scheduled to take place in Kochi in February next year.

The Chief Minister also released the official logo of the event, which will be hosted at Bolgatty Palace & Island Resort from February 2 to 4. Additional Chief Secretary, Kerala METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

Industries Department Shri Paul Antony, Special Secretary Industries Department Shri Sanjay Kaul, Managing Director Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Dr.M.Beena, Director Kerala State Industries and Commerce Shri PM Francis, Director Handloom Development Shri K.Sudheer and K-BIP CEO Shri V.Rajagopal were also present.

Kerala Vyapar 2017 will focus on Kerala’s Small & Micro Enterprises (SMEs), showcase the state’s existing strong manufacturing base, highlight the quality of its products, help sustain existing industries and enable their growth.

The meet is also a platform to boost consumer and investor confidence in Kerala and provide impetus to the production sector and the economy. Vyapar 2017 will highlight the state’s industrial agility and knowledge-based skills to the trading community in India and internationally.

Kerala B2B meets are a part of the state government’s efforts to www.metromartdaily.com

promote SMEs in the global markets and help the manufacturing sector access larger markets.

Vyapar 2017 is being organised by the Department of Industries & Commerce in association with The Directorate of the Directorate Industries & Commerce of Industries & will select the SMEs for Vyapar 2017 and provide Commerce, Directorate them the opportunity to of Handlooms & Textiles, Kerala State present their products Industrial Development and technologies to Corporation (KSIDC) prospective buyers and Kerala Industrial including business houses, trade associates, Development exporters and bulk Corporations (KINFRA). consumers from India The Kerala Bureau of and abroad.

Industrial Promotion Vyapar 2017 will focus (K-BIP) is the designated on promoting products nodal agency tasked with from sectors as varied the successful conduct of as Food Processing, the meet.

Handlooms, Textiles and Garments (with The Federation of Indian special focus on Fashion Chambers of Commerce Design and Furnishing & Industry (FICCI) is products), Rubber, Coir, the ‘Trade & Industry Ayurveda and Herbal Partner’ for Vyapar 2017 (including cosmetics and and is working closely herbal Nutraceuticals), with the department Electrical and Electronics for event planning and as also traditional implementation and in sectors like Handicrafts identifying and ensuring and Bamboo. the participation A key objective of the of national and meet is to help Kerala international buyers. manufacturers get To participate, buyers first-hand knowledge of can register online the market demands, through the event’s emerging markets and requirements in terms of official website: www. quality standards. keralabusinessmeet.org.

October 2016

Ambulance 108

BSNL Land Line: 155300 BSNL Mobile: 0471-155300

Fire Station 101

Anti Piracy Cell 0471 2460001 Mob: 9447210124, 9497981037 E-mail: spapc.pol@kerala. gov.in

Civil Supplies 1967(Toll free no:) 1800-425-1550 (Toll free no:)

Food Adulteration Helpline 1800 425 1125 (Toll free)

Anti-Ragging Helpline 1800 180 5522 (Toll free) Online Enquiry: www.antiragging.in Chief Electoral Officer Control Room: 04712301080 Fax: 0471- 2301081 E-mail: ceo_kerala@eci. gov.in

Coastal Police Alert and State 0471-2556699/ 2320101 Police Monitoring Room Commercial Taxes 1800 425 4777 (Toll free) 9446505527 (Mobile) E-mail: vathelpline@ keralataxes.gov.in Consumer Toll Free Helpline 18004251550

Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund 04712518513/0471-2518487/ (CMDRF) 0471-2518795/0471-2518332

CPC Call Center 1800-425-2229

Chief Minister’s Grievance 1076 (From BSNL) Redressal Cell 18004251076 (From others) 91-471-1076 (From Outside India)

Disaster Management Helpline 1077 (Collectorate)

Crime Stopper 1090

1070 (State Control Room)

Child Helpline 1098

E-filing Call Center 080-26982000 (for e-filing of return)

Citizens Call Centre 0471-2115054/98, 2335523

Election Helpline 1950

64

October 2016

Forest Helpline BSNL Land Line: 155 300 BSNL Mobile: 0471 155 300 Other Networks: 0471- 211 5054/98, 2335523 General Administration 0471- 2518463 (Co-ordination) Helpline for Ex-Service Men 1800-11-3999 (All working days: 9.00 am5.30pm) Helpline to nab Garbage offenders 9496434517 (Only for Thiruvananthapuram) Highway Alert 9846 100 100

Kerala Public Service Commission 0471- 2554000 Call Centre KSRTC Helpline Control Room Tel: 0471 - 2463799/ 04712471011 ext 238 Mobile: 94470 710 21 Kudumbashree Travels

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

0471-2728454 call centre number (for Thiruvananthapuram city)

(24X7 Toll free No.)

8590000543

PWD Helpline 1800 425 7771

State Consumer Helpline 1800-425-1550 (Toll free)

Labour Minister’s Helpline 155 300

Rail Alert 9846 200 100

Sutharya Keralam 155 300

Police Station (Nearest) 100

Ration card renewal Tel: 0471-2320379, 9495998223, 9495998224, 9495998225.

Police Helpline (Head Quarters, Thiruvananthapuram) 0471-324 3000/4000/5000 Police Message Centre 94 97 900000 Police High Way Help Line 9846 100 100

Sabarimala Virtual Queue 0471-3243000/ 3244000/ 3245000 Secretariat Central Agency Tel: 0471- 2327558/ 2518202 (Out of Office hours)

Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana SLBC Call centre: 1800 425 11222

Secretariat Enquiry 0471- 2336576 Fax: 0471- 2333115 (IBMC/ Secretariat)

(PMJDY)

SHE TAXI 24x7 Call Centre

www.metromartdaily.com

Tourist Information toll free 1-800-425-4747 Trivandrum Medical College 0471-2528300 MCH Casualty : (24 hrs) UID/Aadhaar 1800-4251-1800 (Toll free number) Website: uid.kerala.gov.in Vigilance & 8592 900 900 (Toll Free Number) Anti-Corruption Bureau Women Helpline 1091

October 2016

66

October 2016

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M

www.metromartdaily.com

October 2016

68

October 2016

METRO mart T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M