Politics

Caparisoned elephants attract visitors to temple festival in Kerala

Thrissur, Feb 05 (ANI): Domestic and foreign tourists thronged Kerala state for annual temple festival to see caparisoned elephants and traditional colourful dance. The temple festival, 'Thaipooyam', was celebrated with religious pageantry at Koorkancherry Sree Maheswara Temple in Thrissur district amid drum beats and procession. Main attractions of the festival were decorated elephants and traditional dance, 'Kavadis', which enthralled the visitors. People of the region revelled in the celebrations as other temples and houses were also decorated. Thaipooyam festival is celebrated in the name of Lord Subrahmanya, son of Hindu god Shiva. On this day, special rituals are also organised. Another major attraction was 'Kavadiattam' or dancing with floral arrangements made on wooden frames. The item is about six to 10 feet high and is carried by men on their shoulders.

Feb 5, 2015

Forest officials arrange food for animals in Dachigam national park following snowfall

Srinagar, Feb 05 (ANI): With thick blanket of snow covering Kashmir, officials in Srinagar city's Dachigam national park are busy arranging food material for birds and animals, deprived of natural vegetation due to snow. Kashmir has been receiving heavy snowfall for the last four days, disrupting normal life. According to wildlife officials, animals especially the endangered Hangul deer wander outside their safe havens in search of food. The officials have placed huge chunks of dry willow salt in various parts of the national park to feed the endangered species of animals. According to 2009 census, the population of the Hangul, also known as the Kashmiri stag, was estimated to be between 201 and 234, against 117-180 in March 2008. The preventive steps come in the wake of state meteorological department warning of an avalanche in the higher reaches of the Valley.

Feb 5, 2015