Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 30 ℃ | Low: 25 ℃ | Mostly sunny weather for today.
🧐 Did you know? Mahatma Gandhi’s first visit to the Madras Presidency was in 1896 to mobilise support for Indians in South Africa. The largest of these was at Pachaiyappa’s College Hall.
🎭 Celebrating our roots
The annual Mylapore Festival concluded with four days of cultural festivities.
What’s it about? The annual Mylapore Festival, organised by Sundaram Finance, concluded during the weekend. The four-day event showcased different dance and folk performances across several venues for all age groups.
- In all, there were six venues with 35 events and over 100 artists. A puppet show by Muthu Chandran’s Tholpavai Koothu Kalai Kuzhu entertained kids with the theme of education and reducing plastic use.
- Singers Rajah CA and Vijaya took people down memory lane with old tunes. There was a rangoli and kolam contest where families could participate.
Connecting with history and culture: For many, the live performances were a special treat and a chance for youngsters to take in songs and dances from days gone by.
☔ Moderate rain has minimal effect
Many large areas were unscathed after a spell of moderate rain.
What happened? Over the past couple of days, the city received moderate rain of 5-7.3 cm. Despite this, all 16 subways and most major roads didn’t get inundated. However, some localities did see minor water logging.
- According to the Corporation’s rainfall data, Palavakkam on East Coast Road (ECR) received 7.3 cm of rain, and Alandur got 6.4 cm. On Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), some lanes were flooded.
- There was traffic congestion in Medavakkam, Pallikaranai, and the Taramani railway station. Due to metro work, motorists at Mylapore, Luz, and Mandaveli faced traffic snarls.
Corporation on the ground: The Chennai Corporation pumped out water at some locations throughout the night. They’re also monitoring low-level areas with adequate pumps on standby.
♿ Wooden ramp at Elliot’s Beach delayed
Construction of the ramp for disabled persons at Elliot’s Beach continues to face delays.
What’s the story so far? The Chennai Corporation proposed a wooden ramp at the Marina and Elliot’s Beach for persons with disabilities two years ago. While the ramp at Marina was inaugurated in 2022, the one for Elliot’s remains only on paper.
- Officials are waiting for the green light from the state environmental department. According to chief engineer S Rajendran, the ramp can be built in a month once the approval is finalised.
- The ramp will be a semi-permanent structure like the one at Marine Beach and be made of Brazillian wood. It can be removed in case of natural disasters. It’s expected to be 150 metres long with wooden railings.
Not the best option: According to disability rights professor Deepak Nathan, wooden ramps don’t work on beach fronts and should instead be stone-based for better durability. He said once they’re removed, they aren’t properly fitted back.
🛍️ Showcasing crafts and culture
The Dastkar Bazaar brings together over 100 artisans to showcase their handicrafts and wares.
What’s it about? From handicrafts to paintings to traditional clothes and accessories, artisans brought their creations to the Co-Optex Grounds in Egmore for the Dastkar Bazaar. Each stall showcases unique handmade products with a chance for people to know the history and significance of their process.
- The Bazaar is unique in that only handmade products are for sale with no middlemen. The prices are thus reasonable and are a chance for customers to know about the products from the seller.
- The Bazaar also hosts cultural events from January 10 to 14. It includes Rajasthani folk songs, traditional folk performances, and puppet shows.
About Dastkar Bazaar: Dastkar Bazaar is a Delhi-based NGO that was set up in the 1980s. They help in designs and product development and provide training programmes for artisans. The event has participants from over 20 states, including craft entrepreneurs and artisan groups that work with tribals.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you like going on long drives?
- I do like going on long drives.
- I don’t like going on long drives.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
If you were on a cruise, where would you want to travel to?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- IIT Madras and Deakin University from Australia joined hands to launch a research academy.
- Heavy rains caused the Chennai Book Fair to close for a day as the venue was flooded.
- Surgical Strike 2024 showcased how eye care and surgery are adopting new-age technology.
- The CM’s Breakfast Scheme has helped North Chennai’s government schools reduce dropout rates.
- The double-decker express from Chennai to Bengaluru will have second-class reserved coaches from next month.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have gone scuba diving: 22.2%
- I haven’t gone scuba diving: 77.8% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s an interesting fact about your parents that surprised you?
Suchi: “Their patience, tolerance and perseverance.”
Nirmal: “My dad managed to run our family of 4 kids with low income, and yet made everyone happy, which is amazing.”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!