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Tales of Sita and Draupadi
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Good morning, Chennai!

🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 26 ℃ | Low: 22 ℃ | Heavy rain for today.

🧐 Did you know? The only areas in Madras that initially had purpose-built storm drains were parts of George Town, which was then the most densely populated division of the city.


🎭 Sita and Draupadi’s stories

(Image credit: Keelaka Dance Company)

Sakhi from the Keelaka Dance Company presents a unique blend of art forms to tell tales of Sita and Draupadi.

What’s it about? Dancers Jyotsna Shourie and Aneesha Grover from the Keelaka Dance Company will present Sakhi. It’s a unique blend of Bharatanatyam, contemporary dance, and other art forms to take the audience on a journey of the two character’s lives.

  • The show presents the lives of these characters. Even though they lived in different eras, they share similarities. Fire is central to their storylines, and both characters are portrayed as powerful and complementary images of womanhood.
  • The show takes the artistic license to place them on stage and exchange stories through their voices. Other characters in the show include Lord Rama, Ravana, and Hanuman.

Company’s history: Located in Delhi, the Keelaka Dance Company was the result of a friendship between Jyotsna Shourie and Aneesha Grover. The former is a teacher, and the latter is a student. The aim is to make Bharatanatyam accessible to newer audiences.

Details: The team will perform Sakhi on October 18 at Medai – The Stage, Alwarpet.


Downpour begins

(Image credit: Dhivya’s X post)

Heavy rains began lashing the city and recorded 4.6 cm of rain on October 14.

What’s it about? According to the Chennai Corporation’s Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), Vadapalani received the highest rainfall of 6.2 cm, followed by Nungambakkam with 6.1 cm.

  • In Chengalpet, which received 4 cm of rain, Mahabalipuram got the highest with 6.3 cm, followed by Thiruporur with 4.2 cm and 3 cm in Tambaram.
  • Some areas of the city began experiencing moderate water stagnation. The civic body ran 17 motors to remove floodwaters in low-lying areas, particularly in parts of Vyasarpadi.

Taking stock: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin carried out a midnight inspection of flood-prone areas, including Pallikaranai, Mylapore, and Chepauk.


✍️ Sustainable Bio-manufacturing course

IIT Madras and the University of Tours, France, have partnered to offer a new course on sustainable biotechnology.

What’s it about? The new course from the two universities is ‘Sustainable Bio-Manufacturing of high-value Phytochemicals’. The course is offered through the ‘Global Initiative of Academic Networks’ (GIAN) programme as part of a collaboration with international universities.

  • The course deals with sustainable bio-manufacturing of plant-derived natural products using plant and microbial bio-factories. It helps conserve nature while fulfilling the market demand for phytochemicals that have commercial applications.
  • The course is open to those outside IIT Madras, including researchers, industry professionals, and students with basic knowledge of plant cell and microbial technology and fermentation.

Objective: The course aims to introduce the current state-of-the-art technologies to produce high-value plant products like drugs and cosmetics as an alternative to natural plant extraction. The course is in line with the Indian government’s vision of the recently announced BioE3 policy, which aims to promote and facilitate large-scale manufacturing of bio-products.


📊 Today’s Poll

(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)

Do you prefer cold or hot beverages?

  • I prefer cold beverages.
  • I prefer hot beverages.

❓ Today’s Question

(Only subscribers can submit their answers)

What’s your preferred way to have eggs cooked?

Reply to this email with your answers.


🗞️ In other news…


🛋️ Local Lounge

Yesterday’s Poll:

  • I still listen to the radio: 61.5% 🏆
  • I don’t listen to the radio: 38.5%

Answers to Yesterday’s Question:

Which adventure sport would you like to try?

Suchi: “None!”

Preethi: “Scuba diving”

Shiva: “Water Skiing”

That’s it for today. Have a great day!

Chennai news in just 5 minutes

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