Monthly Archives: November 2017

This 5-Year-Old Andhra Girl Has Created Two Archery Records in a Day

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

She created two records on Sunday to enter the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records, and it’s not her first time!

When Dolly Shivani Cherukuri from Vijayawada was nearing two, she became the youngest Indian archer to score more than 200 points at a trial event.

And boy was she young!

Three years later, Dolly has done it again. On Sunday, the now 5-year-old created two records to enter the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records.

According to Deccan Chronicle , Dolly created the first record by shooting 103 arrows to a distance of 10m in just 11 minutes, 19 seconds.

She used the Indian arrow and a compound bow – one that uses a levering system to bend the limbs.

Dolly Shivani Cherukuri. Source: Facebook
Dolly Shivani Cherukuri. Source: Facebook

She created the second record by shooting 36 arrows from a distance of 20m in 5 minutes, 8 seconds. Out of 360 points, she scored 290.

“The performance of Shivani was outstanding, and an archer in their teens cannot do the feat done by Shivani. It was a big challenge for her in this age, and we appreciate the efforts of Volga Archery Academy for their training,” B. Shravan Kumar, an official from Archery Association of India, told Deccan Chronicle.

Dolly comes from a family of archers. Her father runs an archery academy, and her older brother, who unfortunately passed away six years ago, was an international archer as well as coach.

The records certificates were handed over to Dolly’s father, Cherukuri Satyanarayana, by the officials of Asia Books of Records.

source: http://www.thebetterindia.com / The Better India / Home> Andhra Pradesh> Quick Bytes / by Deepika Bharadwaj / September 2017

A techie’s tryst with mangrove crab

Agriculture, Business & Economy, World Opinion
Pirati Kanumuru with a wild crab at his pond near Konduru village in Krishna district. | Photo Credit: T_ APPALA NAIDU
Pirati Kanumuru with a wild crab at his pond near Konduru village in Krishna district. | Photo Credit: T_ APPALA NAIDU

Reaping profits with export to China

A young Hyderabad-based techie, Pirati Kanumuru, has tapped potential of mangrove crab (Scylla serrata) cultivation in the artificial ponds near Konduru mandal headquarters in Krishna district. Mr. Kanumuru was born in Konduru mandal.

Managing to collect above 6,500 mangrove crabs from the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary and other mangrove patches in Krishna and Guntur districts for every 90 days, the techie is reaping profits by exporting them to Singapore and China. The Yanadi tribal families collect the crab from the mangrove forest.

Fattening technology

“I have recently held talks with middlemen to export the wild crab to a few South Asian countries. The talks are in a crucial stage now,” Mr. Kanumuru told The Hindu. Beginning with a pilot project testing the survival and feasibility to cultivate the wild crab in the artificial ponds in 2015, Mr. Kanumuru had spread the wild crab cultivation in the six acres now.

The growth of the wild crab being collected from the mangrove forest is fast. The crab would gain weight of up to two kilograms within the three months in the crab fattening technology. In the fattening technology, the crab is left to grow in the floating cage.

“In the international market, a kilogram live crab fetches ₹1,000 to ₹1,200. The profit on each crab for each cultivation season (three-months) is clearly double in the existing market prices,” added Mr. Kanumuru. The techie had installed Closed Circuit cameras covering all the ponds here, inspecting the groundwork and day-to-day developments through online from Hyderabad. The crab fattening technology enables to go for any inter-crop in the same pond as the cages with crab are required to float on the pond. “The existing United Nation’s guidelines will not encourage the mass collection of the wild crab (Scylla serrata) from the mangrove crab, citing a threat to the brackishwater species. There is a need to develop hatcheries to encourage the crab cultivation,” said Mr. Kanumuru.

Hatchery in Bapatla

The State government with the support of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture has proposed to set up a wild crab hatchery in Bapatla in Guntur district. In 2014, the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, has introduced the crab fattening technology in Sorlagondi forest in Krishna district, involving the Yanadi tribal families those engaged in the collection of the wild crab from the mangrove cover.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by T. Appala Naidu / Koduru (Krishna) , October 30th, 2017

Weaving tales of success at grassroots level

Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features
Imbibing values Children saying their prayers before taking lunch at Chukkapalli High School at Adavinekkalam. | Photo Credit: V RAJU.
Imbibing values Children saying their prayers before taking lunch at Chukkapalli High School at Adavinekkalam. | Photo Credit: V RAJU.

Majority of the students in Chukkapalli High School come from poor families

Students here walk with both their hands held behind their back as part of discipline on campus. But when talking to a teacher or a visitor, the two arms quickly fold across their chest in a gesture of respect.

Ethics and discipline are the cornerstone of the Chukkapalli High School tucked in Adavinekkalam village in Agiripalli mandal of Krishna district.

A three-acre sprawl of safe, supporting and disciplined school environment awaits young learners with rare warmth.

Run by the Chukkapalli Charitable Trust floated by Chairman of the Kusalava Group of Companies Chukkapalli Kusalava, the school runs in a part of a 16-acre land covered with mango orchards. Even the main school building has mango trees which bear fruits but the children don’t touch them unless they are asked to.

Majority of the students come from the 25-odd gudems (tribal hamlets) in the area dotted with villages where families eke out a living either as agriculture coolies or by vending milk. A few children are from the Lambada thanda deprived of the basic amenities of life. Six school buses ply from Nunna to Eedara to transport children to the school that gives them a rare pleasure of wide open space.

A gazebo right in front of the main gate gives the place an inviting look. With just one government school in this region with inadequate facilities, residents of the local gudems pleaded with Mr. Kusalava in 2002 for a school that could take care of their children’s education.

The latter obliged and up came the school building in three acres. “We don’t allow more than 30-35 in one class. Our motive is not profit. We know that the villages lack opportunities, information and guidance; this is our effort to show them the way,” says Sudha Chukkapalli, Secretary and Correspondent of the school.

Mandal toppers

Despite resource crunch at homes, students have been showing academic excellence, passing out with flying colours. This is the fourth consecutive year that the school students bagged Pratibha Awards recently presented by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for emerging toppers in the mandal.

“Two of our girls have secured seats in IIIT Nuzvid and one in IIT, Dharwad,” informs Ms. Chukkapalli as we enter the activity room which has all things yellow.

Students, all dressed in yellow, keenly observe their teachers make lemonade. There are fruits, vegetables and a few other eatables in yellow colour placed on the teacher’s table.

“Education when imparted in fun way has greater impact,” says Prabhakar Sarma, Principal of the school. “Many students come from broken families where one of their parents have committed suicide. We want this place to inculcate in them a sense of strength that can help them overcome physical, mental and emotional hardships,” says Ms. Chukkapalli.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / S. Sujatha Varma / Vijayawada – Novembere 11th, 2017

Araku Balloon Festival – Hot-air balloons to colour Araku sky!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports, World Opinion

ArakuBalloonsANDHRA10nov2017

Come November 14 and colourful hot air balloons will dot the sky above the picturesque Araku Valley, the hill station near Vizag, for three days. “Araku Balloon Festival”, an international festival organised by Andhra Pradesh Tourism, is set to pull travel writers, photographers, hot air balloon enthusiasts from across the world to the valley in the mountainous range of the Eastern Ghats.

To be held till November 16, the festival will lit up the sky throughout the day and night on all the three days and enthusiasts would get to witness balloons of different shapes and sizes adorn the sky in the non-ticketed festival.

“It’s an international festival so there will be fifteen teams of balloons and their pilots from eleven countries coming in. This is a tourism department initiative and the AP tourism has launched this event to increase tourism in the area. We will also have fifteen hot air balloons flown in for the do,” says Paul, one of the organisers of the festival.

When prod, Tourism ED Sriramulu Naidu refrained from confirming any details but said that he will make everything public once he receives the information. “So far I have not received the final concept from the organisers. There are a few details that need to be ironed out. Maybe it will reach me in the next few days,” he informed.
Paul however, states that if they manage to pull off the festival as planned, it will be one of the best balloon fests in the country. “There will be balloons operating during sunrise, and also have other balloons that will operate on a night glow concept in the evening,” he says.

But what has gotten the youngsters in the city excited are the three special-shaped balloons that will be displayed at the festival. Namely a massive ‘Bee’, a seahorse shaped balloon called ‘Neptuno’ and ‘Iwi the Kiwi’, are expected to pull a large gatherings to the festival.

Apart from the colourful and dazzling hot air balloons, para-motoring displays, a hare and hound race and others events will also be a part of the festival itinerary to keep festival-goers hooked on all there days.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Visakhapatnam News / Neeshita Nyayapati / TNN / November 03rd, 2017

Guntur students win prizes at IIT Kharagpur

Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology
Students of The Crossword School, Guntur —Vijayaditya Reddy, M. Sudhamsu and G.Vishnu Teja— with ‘cool push cart’ designed by them.
Students of The Crossword School, Guntur —Vijayaditya Reddy, M. Sudhamsu and G.Vishnu Teja— with ‘cool push cart’ designed by them.

‘Kool kart’ has them emerge as second runners-up in Young Innovators programme’17

A cool cart to preserve the freshness of fruits, designed by students of The Crossword School here, has won the laurels at the Young Innovators Programme 2017, held at IIT Kharagpur on October 28 and October 29. The innovation, ‘Kool Kart’, made the students emerge as the second runners-up from among 24 entries from across the country.

The class VIII students, Vijayaditya Reddy, M. Sudhamsu G.Vishnu Teja, guided by the Principal Naga Padmaja, designed the ‘push kool kart’ as a means to preserve the fruits sold by vendors on the streets.

“The students have designed the cool cart making use of Peltier’s Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC). Peltier Plate or more popularly known TEC has two sides. It creates a temperature gradient on both sides of the plate when a potential difference is supplied to them,’’ said M. Chenna Kesava Reddy, director of the school.

The students have used a 60W solar panel powering the Peltier module. Fibre sheets have been used to cover the cart. The students have attached a heat sink and a fan to dissipate the heat and maintain a steady temperature. A 12V rechargeable battery is attached to the solar panel to allow for uninterrupted power supply.

With cold air convection, the students were able to achieve about 20-25 degrees Celsius in the controlled area, which is quite suitable for the preservation of our perishables.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / Staff Reporter / Guntur -November 04th, 2017

Prehistoric labyrinth discovered in E. Godavari

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nature, Records, All
Archaeologist Kadiyala Venkateswara Rao at the labyrinth in Kolimeru village, East Godavari district.
Archaeologist Kadiyala Venkateswara Rao at the labyrinth in Kolimeru village, East Godavari district.

It throws light on ancient cult practices, says freelance archaeologist

A prehistoric painting of a mystic labyrinth has been discovered at a cave on top of a hill near Kolimeru village near Tuni in East Godavari district. The labyrinth, dating back to the Neolithic period, consists of seven circles in red ochre on white pigment painted on a rectangular rock in front of the cave facing the Sun.

“The discovery of the labyrinth throws light not only on the ancient religious practices of prehistoric civilisations, but also on their knowledge about astronomical signs. Ancient civilisations had worshipped Sun and were able to predict seasons and even natural calamities,’’ freelance archaeologist and former deputy director, Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh, Kadiyala Venkateswara Rao told The Hindu on Friday.

Mr. Rao had earlier unearthed a unique Menhir at Karempudi in Guntur district that threw light on the existence of prehistoric civilisations in Guntur district.

The word labyrinth is an ancient Greek word with Minoan cultural influence and means extremely complicated and therefore difficult to understand.

The hills, known locally as ‘Bangaruloya,’ and the rock shelter ‘Pandavulavari Gani,’ have mystic folklore. Locals believe that Pandavas lived in this rock shelter during “aranyavasa,’’ and also thought mystic drawings could indicate that huge gold and precious things were hidden in the caves.

Line drawings

Mr. Rao, now aged 75 years, located the rock shelter after an arduous trek. The natural rock found at the entrance of the shelter has sacred Neolithic labyrinth motifs painted in red ochre on a white pigment. He also found line drawings of a bull and a deer on either side of the labryinth, though the colour has faded away. It is believed that the rock shelter might be a worshipping place of Neolithic hunter-gatherers.

“Ancient literature has thrown light on the ways in which priests studied the equinoxes, solstices and movements of Sun and Moon hoping to gain mastery over the elements. Cult priests might have also performed rituals and other ancestral worshipping practices in front of the labyrinth symbol,’’ Mr. Rao added.

Mr. Rao also discovered a prehistoric cup mark which are also found on other prehistoric sites such as dolmen and menhirs, sacred ritual symbols.

It is interesting to note that similar labyrinths have been found in Europe and other countries and are common in aboriginal art and usually associated with creative energy. In India, labyrinths have been found at Halibedu in Hoyasleshwara Swamy Temple in Karnataka, and in Goa and Rajastan, where they are worshipped as Manas Chakra, a religious emblem.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Samuel Jonathan / Guntur – October 21st, 2017

Writer Haranatha Rao passes away in Ongole

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

HaranthaRaoANDHRA08nov2017

Penned screenplay for over 150 films

Noted Telugu playwright, script writer and actor M. V. S. Haranatha Rao died of cardiac arrest here on Monday. He was 70. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

The progressive playwright has also carved a niche for himself in the Telugu tinsel world, writing dialogues for over 150 films, including Nandi award winning films like ‘Pratighatana,’ ‘Bharata Nari,’ ‘Anna’ and ‘Ammayi Kapuram.’Drama continued to be his passion though Haranatha Rao entered the cine field through noted film-maker T. Krishna. He has penned screenplay for over 150 films. He has also acted in 20 films and won acclaim for his stellar performance in ‘Rakshasudu’ and ‘Swayamkrushi.’

The first play he penned was ‘Rakta Bali.’ His latest play ‘Kanya Varasulkam,’ which portrays the assertive modern day Telugu women in the present social milieu, has won the best drama award of the Andhra Pradesh Cultural Affairs Department. Forest Minister Sidda Raghava Rao condoled the death of the playwright.

Indian People’s Theatre Association State honorary president Nalluri Venkateswarlu, NTR Kala Parishad founder Edara Haribabu and playwright Patibandla Ananda Rao were among those who paid their last respects.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Ongole – October 10th, 2017

New aquaculture system dedicated to nation

Agriculture, Records, All, Science & Technology

ICAR Director General Trilochan Mohapatra on Tuesday dedicated to the nation the indigenous Re-circulatory Aquaculture System developed at the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

Dr. Mohapatra, who was here to receive an award at the third AP Science Congress, lauded the efforts by scientists for setting up RAS for marine finfish broodstock maturation. This would help quick production and effective disease control to farmers, he said. RAS has been successful in broodstock development of Orange spotted grouper and pompano to enable mass scale production.

Later, he interacted with scientists of CMFRI and Central Institute of Fishing Technology. He praised the training imparted by CIFT to fisherwomen of Pudimadaka and facilitating them to sell various fish items on Beach Road by procuring a van.

The ICAR Director General advised scientists to conduct a case study on success of the project so as to replicate it at other places in the country.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – November 08th, 2017

Bhairavakona spectacle draws over a lakh

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
Picturesque spot: Kaigal waterfalls was the youngsters’ choice destination in Chittoor district. | Photo Credit: By Arrangement
Picturesque spot: Kaigal waterfalls was the youngsters’ choice destination in Chittoor district. | Photo Credit: By Arrangement

Siva temples abuzz with special rituals in connection with Karthika Pournami

All roads led to Shiva temples across Prakasam district as devotees thronged them to offer special prayers to mark Karthika Pournami on Saturday.

Over a lakh pilgrims visited Bhairavakona, a protected monument of the Archaeological Survey of India, to witness the grand spectacle of the moon’s reflection on the forehead of the mother goddess Trimukha Durga.

But the natural satellite played hide and seek in view of the inclement weather and kept the devotees on tenterhooks.

Tripurantakam, the eastern gateway to Srisailam, was agog with religious activity as devotees lined up to seek the blessings of Lord Tripurantakeswara.

A heavy rush of pilgrims was witnessed also at the picturesque beaches in the district, including Kothapatnam, Voderavu and Ramayapatnam as the devotees performed ‘samudra snanam’. Devotees in groups made Shivalingams with beach sand and offered prayers to Lord Siva.

Kaigal Falls

In Chittoor district, devotees thronged the famous Talakona and Kailasa Kona temples and the Kaigal Falls while the temples at Nagari, Puttur, Mogili, Madanapalle and other pilgrim places wore a festive look, with predawn rituals.

Many people trekked the Battinayya Konda near Srikalahasti and peformed special puja to Lord Battinayya and lit Karthika Deepam at the hilltop.

Similarly, the sacred deepam was lit at Anantarayalu Konda and Kartheeka Konda in Pakala mandal. Annabishekam was performed in many temples.

Siva deeksha

A large number of devotees took a holy dip in Pathalaganga on Karthika Pournami and had darshan of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and Sri Bhramaramba Devi at Srisailam in Kurnool district. Devotees performed Lakshavathula nomu and did Karthika Masa Deeparadhana at Nagulakatta. Many devotees took Siva deeksha and Karthika Vanabhojanam was organised at the Siva Deeksha camps on the way to Pathalaganga.

Special puja was performed at the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Ahobilam.

Suprabhatha Seva was performed early in the morning and abhishekam for processional idols of Sri Prahlada Varadaswamy, Sridevi and Bhudevi in the temple mantapam. Maha mangala harathi was given and the presiding deities were taken round on a palanquin.

A large number of devotees took a holy dip in Panchabugga Koneru in the Sri Omkareswara temple in the Nallamala forest area in Bandi Atmakur mandal in the district.

Historic temple

The historic Mallemkondeswara Swamy temple at Brahmanapalli in Gopavaram mandal in Kadapa district would be developed as a tourist centre, Minister for Endowments Pydikondala Manikyala Rao said after worshipping at the temple.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Andhra Pradesh Bureau / Ongole-Chitoor-Kurnool / November 04th, 2017

Visakhapatnam Railway Station has a rare art gallery treat for passengers

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
railway station
railway station

Visakhapatnam Railway Station surely knows how to enrich the experience of passengers on their journey and there has been no stone unturned in this regard.

Visakhapatnam Railway Station surely knows how to enrich the experience of passengers on their journey and there has been no stone unturned in this regard. In one of the first such projects across any railway station in India, Vizag will have an Art Gallery with rare pictures for viewing by passengers. Situated near the main exit gate, the Art Gallery has already been inaugurated by Waltair Division railway manager yesterday.

One can now see pictures in the art gallery of facts and events from the 1960s and 1970s which have artistic, factual and historic significance. These have been sourced from the National Rail Museum in New Delhi. Further in a statement, the authorities have encouraged local artists to come forward with their individual works to be displayed at the art gallery. Local talent is invited and it will serve as a platform for newbie artists to grab attention. The display will be free of cost to the artist and one can approach the Station Master for further details.

Highlights –

  • Mahatma Gandhi standing at the door of an old compartment during the times of Salt Satyagraha.
  • Steam engines that used to draw trains earlier.
  • Vintage pictures of Howrah Station.
  • Pictures of train carrying refugees from Pakistan into then India.

Definitely worth a peek for all of us next time we are making a rail journey, don’t you thinks so?

source: http://www.yovizag.com / Yo!Vizag / Home> News-City Updates