Good morning, Chennai!
🪔 On account of Ayudha Pooja, we are taking a day off today. We will not be publishing this newsletter tomorrow. See you on Wednesday!
☁️ Today’s weather: A little cloudy for today.
🧐 Did you know? The longest lake in the city was once the long tank. It stretched for 5.5 miles.
⛵ Boathouse getaways
Boathouses are becoming increasingly popular among weekend and leisure travellers.
What’s it about? Come the weekend and festival holidays, boathouses are now becoming a popular choice for travellers. In the past six months, 27 lakh people have visited the nine boathouses run by the tourism department, including the ones at Muttukadu and Mudaliarkuppam.
- At Muttukadu, from April to September 2022, 1.39 lakh people visited. This increased to 1.47 lakh this year. The number of people visiting is 30% more than weekdays.
- Muttukadu is one of the more popular ones since it’s only an hour’s drive along the East Coast Road (ECR). Footfall has also increased at Mudaliarkuppam in the past few months.
What’s the government doing? The state tourism department is also adding boathouse facilities in Ooty, Pykara, Kodaikanal, Yercaud, and others to improve tourism.
☔ Gearing up for the monsoon
The Chennai Police have added 12 disaster response teams in anticipation of rescue calls.
What’s it about? The Chennai Police have added one additional disaster response team in each of the 12 police districts. The police and other officials are anticipating rescue calls as they prepare for the northeast monsoon. The police will also take other measures to ensure the streets and motorists are safe.
- Each team will comprise 10 people along with rescue equipment, including a vehicle, a boat, life jackets, and rope. People can identify them by their distinctive jackets.
- The police have issued an advisory to ensure citizens are aware of weather alerts before stepping out and not trust unverified information on social media. They’ve also been encouraged to use public transport if they need to travel during heavy rain.
Traffic and parking: The police have been asked to set up barricades near subways. Public address systems will be installed to divert people in case of an emergency. The police have also asked people not to park vehicles under trees.
🛕 Bengal settlers in Chennai
The Korattur Puja Association has helped Bengali families settle in the city.
What’s the history? The Korattur Puja Association, set up in 1980, has helped families from West Bengal settle in the city. It has offered a microcosm of Bengal and its culture during Puja Week every year.
- During the early years, the Association was short of funds and so the celebrations were modest and minimal. Things changed in 1984. Bengalis working at the Ambattur Industrial Estate and the Integral Coach Factory were drawn to Korattur.
- The Association doesn’t have a dedicated space or venue to hold events, so they’re sometimes held at members’ homes. This year’s puja celebrations will be at Mohan Towers, G.R.K. Palace in Padi.
The festivities: The celebrations are open to members and non-members. Bengali singers will perform on stage, and there will be different rituals in keeping with Bengali culture.
🪔 Green puja
Durga puja organisers are insisting participants adhere to some sustainable practices.
What’s it about? Several puja organisers in the city are going green and want participants to follow several sustainable practices. Some venues have prohibited single-use plastic, while others will cut down on processions.
- Most of the associations have their idols made of clay and by artisans from Bengal, so the process is already eco-friendly. It also helps support local artisans.
- The Dakshin Chennai Prabashi Cultural Association will reduce the convoy of vehicles accompanying the deity. The Bengal Association, T. Nagar, has asked its event management company to use recyclable materials to decorate the pandals.
Other measures: Other associations across the city are working toward cutting down on food wastage. The Dakshini Society in Anna Nagar will mark its 30th year by planting saplings.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you display Golu dolls in your house?
- I display Golu dolls in my house.
- I don’t display Golu dolls in my house.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which boathouse is your favourite?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Tambaram residents will get a better water supply thanks to a new pipeline project at Tiruneermalai.
- Piped gas connections are now an increasing trend in residential projects.
- Low-lying medians pose a danger to motorists as they’re unaccompanied by safety features.
- The Corporation and WRD will speed up their flood-mitigation work.
- Families in Arundhathiyar Nagar travel a long distance for rations with the nearest PDS over 2 km away.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!