Miniature Viswakarma idol marvels - The Hindu

Miniature Viswakarma idol marvels - The Hindu

By  BVS BHASKAR

‘Ksheerasagar’, a brand new white revolution in the offing - The Hindu

‘Ksheerasagar’, a brand new white revolution in the offing - The Hindu

Vinayaka cricket team idol a big hit - The Hindu

Vinayaka cricket team idol a big hit - The Hindu

Vinayaka cricket team idol a big hit

B.V.S. BHASKAR

Vinayaka cricket team idol made by designer Golakoti Madhav. —Photo: S. Rambabu

A different Ganesh idol made by a youth from Konaseema is attracting a large number of people from different parts of East and West Godavari districts.

The 

funny

 costumes designer Golakoti Madhav has made an 11-member cricket team of Lord Vinakaya playing cricket in a ground with dress code and striker and non-striker Ganesh with gloves, pads and bat in their hands. The 11-member ‘opposition’ team stands in their respective places.

“It was sold out immediately within an hour before it reached my shop from my house for display ,” said Madhav.

Global recognition

Mr. Madhav got global recognition for his involvement in two world sporting events in 2010 and 2011 which were `Shera’ (tiger) mascot for 

Common

 Wealth 

Games

 and ‘Stumpy’ (elephant) for Cricket World Cup respectively.

After finishing training in Hyderabad and Puducherry, he started `Madhav Funny Costumes’ in Amalapuram about 11 years ago. In the beginning he made funny costumes like joker, buffoon, ducks, Godzilla, Santa Claus, Ostrich and Lord Ganesha with for cloth, fibre and thermocol. He used to give these costumes to all the functions starting from school anniversary days, college functions, weddings, birthdays and openings of shops and malls.

“I am being encouraged mainly by the star hotel River Bay in Rajahmundry. Annually I make settings to them for Sankranti, Vinayaka Chaviti and other occasions”. Mr. Madhav said that he hires not only costumes but also people who wears the costumes. “I give part-time employment to 15 youth who wear these costumes and stand during the functions for 4 to 5 hours to whom I will pay Rs.350 per day,” he said.

Costumes designer Golakoti Madhav makes an 11-member cricket team of Lord Vinakaya playing cricket in a ground

Schoolchildren, NGOs say ‘Jai bolo clay Ganesh’ - The Hindu

Schoolchildren, NGOs say ‘Jai bolo clay Ganesh’ - The Hindu'

Schoolchildren, NGOs say ‘Jai bolo clay Ganesh’

B.V.S. BHASKAR

Students of Sri Shirdi Sai Vidya Niketan making clay idols in their school on Wednesday.- PHOTO. S. RAMBABU

This year Ganesh Chaturthi is different from the previous years in Rajahmundry and other parts of East Godavari. Schoolchildren and various non-government organisations took lead in encouraging eco-friendly clay idols and the NGOs decided to distribute clay idols free of cost not only in Rajahmundry, but also in Kakinada, Amalapuram, Ramachandrapuram, Peddapuram and other parts of the district.

Sri Shirdi Sai Vidya Niketan made a choice of making clay idols of lord Ganesh and embarked on the journey towards a clean planet.

The canvas was set two days ago and the students of the school scurried around with artistic paraphernalia in their hands and fertile imagination in their heads.

Myriad idols of lord Ganesh waited to find their right frame into the centre of a purpose- the festival of Vinayaka Chavithi.

School director T. Sridhar and Principal T. Srividya guided them to make about 200 clay idols in their school premises.

Sri Gouthami School students did in a different way with one-day workshop on clay modeling in which they taught how to make their own Ganesha at their home.

“This concept will spread the message of clean environment without using chemicals and colours and also encourage neighbors to go for only clay idols” said Sunkara Ravikumar, Correspondent of the School.

LNG project yet to take shape - The Hindu

LNG project yet to take shape - The Hindu

LNG project yet to take shape

B.V.S. BHASKAR

Vexed promoters threaten to shift to Gujarat or TN

Though the State government has paved the way for execution of two major LNG projects by addressing issues that were holding them back for the last couple of years, it is dillydallying on inviting prospective private investors who were keen on making investments and offer gas at a competitive price.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, during his just-concluded Delhi visit, got an assurance from Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan regarding setting up of LNG terminal and floating storage re-gasification unit at Kakinada Deep Water Port (KDWP). However, the second LNG terminal at KDWP by private investors seems to be facing bureaucratic hurdles. According to Gas Authority of India Limited general manager M.V. Iyer, the unit at Kakinada would be operated by a consortium of firms including US-based oil and gas major Shell, GDP-Suez of the UK, GAIL and AP Gas Distribution Corporation.

It will take three to four years for the project to materialise if everything goes well,” he added. He admitted that the procedural wrangles could delay the grounding of the project and hoped both the Central and State governments would address them.

The proposal for the second LNG terminal was submitted to the Chief Minister by Krishna-Godavari LNG Limited consortium members, including VGS Group, Inc, USA, and Exmar of Belgium last month and the CM had promised all support. “The response from the AP government so far has not been encouraging. We will wait for another ten days and may consider going to Gujarat or Tamil Nadu, who are ready to give all clearances,” said Dr. M.V.S.R. Kamesam, Director, KGLNG.

Bamboo Ganapati from Kadiyam nurseries - The Hindu

Bamboo Ganapati from Kadiyam nurseries - The Hindu

Bamboo Ganapati from Kadiyam nurseries

B.V.S BHASKAR

 

Ganesh idol made with bamboo by Palla Venkanna Nursery at Kadiyam in East Godavari district.Photo: S. Rambabu

Kadiyam, one of the rich mandals in the State, is known for nurseries and they export different varieties of plants to different parts of the country and abroad.

This year, Satyanarayana Nursery Gardens popularly known as Palla Venkanna Nursery has come up with a novel idea.

It has come up with an idea of making Ganapati idol not with clay but with bamboo. One of the three brothers, Palla Subrahmanyam recently went to Kolkata and participated in a workshop where he mastered the making of Ganesha with bamboo. On his return he took the help of some farm labourers in his nursery garden and started making Lord Ganesh idol. After carving the bamboo in the shape of Ganesha, touchwood paint should be applied to give long life and the quintessential shine.

The nursery folks said this year they would teach the making of Lord Ganesh idol with bamboo to their farm hands and they start making and selling from next Ganesh Chaturthi.

“This is eco-friendly and long lasting. The life of the idol is not less than 30 years. If every thing goes well we may sell it from next year,” said Mr. Ganesh.

Chilukuri Srinivasa Rao, State “Paryavarana Mitra” Awardee and Best Teacher, who hails from Kadiyam said people who wish to promote pollution-free neighbour should opt for these idols made of bamboos.

Fuelling change through film - The Hindu

Fuelling change through film - The Hindu

Fuelling change through film

B.V.S. BHASKAR

A scene from the short-film ‘’Save oil...for Safe tomorrow’

A short-film taken by dozen youth of Rajahmundry gave a thought-provoking message as well as reminded the public about social responsibility. The main theme of the story is conservation of oil and how people are wasting petroleum products in their daily life. For value addition, the two young directors of the film have taken sound bytes of Deputy Chief Minister N. China Rajappa and convinced MLC Chaitanya Raju to act as guest artist.“Save oil today-for Safe tomorrow” is the title of the film and it was directed by Assistant Commercial Tax Officer of Peddapuram L. Nagaraju and experienced short-film director and engineering student Tarun Kalim of Rajahmundry. Mr. Nagaraju is trained in Annapoorna Film Institute and he wrote the dialogue and script for the short-film. The entire story revolves around Krishnaveni, an engineering student who is pursuing her petrochemical engineering in Dehradun. The added advantage of the role is that Krishnaveni was played by popular Kuchipudi dancer and Y. Lalitha Sindhuri. She was supported by Sirisha, Reshmi Nayar, Naidu and K. Sandeep -- all youngsters, and Bhaskar, Chayavaralakshmi and Malleswari.

The story of the short-film is around a small family of wife, husband and their daughter who wants to spread the message of oil conservation throughout the film. She argues, enlightens, spreads awareness among schoolchildren, gives examples on how we waste fuel such as petrol, diesel and gas.

“Why are you taking out bike rallies on the occasion of your leader’s birthday? Why don’t you distribute some fruits or bread to the poor in any of the hospitals in the city?” she asks a group of youth who argues with Krishnaveni. Directors Nagaraju and Tarun said, “We have produced two more films earlier on banning of plastic bags, which got award in International Eco Film festival held in Goa and on traffic awareness and this is the third.” said Padmaja, secretary of BEST, an NGO. She added that ONGC has supported in making the short-film.