Kerala all set to have a water museum
Published May 17, 2008 | 
Kozhikode: The water heritage museum, the first of its type in the state is an attempt to introduce the unique and traditional water resources of Kerala including wells and ponds. In addition it also sheds light on the water management, watershed management and the conventional farming techniques of the by gone era. The museum would be set up at the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management at Kozhikode.
The visitors can learn more about the Vembanad and ‘kole’ wetland culture and traditional water-lifting devices. The museum will also have separate sections for inland water transport, water sports and the importance of water in religion. Dams as well as the changing patterns in the water consumption are also highlighted in this museum. The museum will be open between to between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m on all working days from the 1st of June.
A cow with a penchant for non vegetarian food
Published April 1, 2008 | 
Kannur: A cow belonging to C P Hussain in Kuttiyatoor village has grabbed the headlines for a strange reason! It has developed an uncanny preference to non-vegetarian food including raw and fried fish apart from chicken preparations. However, it goes without saying that this strange inclination of the animal is burning a hole in the pockets of its owner.
The cow has become a crowd puller overnight and many people from nearby villages make a bee line to see this seven year old wonder cow with packets of fish and meat in tow.
The cow reportedly developed a preference for non-vegetarian diet after its owner started feeding grass mixed with fish a few years ago. The interesting thing is that the other two cows of Hussain remain strictly vegetarian even today. Vets opine that such behavior is occasionally seen in animals to even off the natural deficiency in mineral and proteins. There have been cases where animals resort to eat small pebbles, paper, soil or even glass pieces.
Kerala celebrates Easter Sunday with gaiety
Published March 24, 2008 | 
Kochi: The Christian community in Kerala celebrated Easter with religious fervor and gaiety with the midnight Easter mass and special services in churches topped off with a sumptuous meal topping the chart.
No Easter is complete without the Easter eggs and a grand feast. Turkeys, a variety of meat and fish preparations, rich stews, soups, cookies, pies, and wine are all staples for a heady Easter celebration.
The first visible clues of the impending celebration of Easter start dropping in with the observation of 50-day Lent during which devout Christians abstain from eating meat and fish. Though youngsters seldom observe these strict guidelines, the older generation adheres to these rituals even now. In some orthodox Christian homes even milk and egg is also not consumed during the Lent.
Come Easter and the celebration is very much in the air; shimmering lights bathing the streets, aroma of freshly baked rice cakes and cookies wafting through the innumerable chimneys and a deluge of friends and relatives who make a goodwill visit to their brethren- everything speaks for Easter. The surprising summer showers this season have led to a bountiful bloom of brightly colored Easter lily flowers that painted the Kerala country sides in a riot of colors. Markets hummed with avid shoppers who shopped till they dropped rummaging through the countless stores that offer the latest clothes, cakes, wine and fire crackers.
The attractive prices of rubber that saw an all time high of Rs.100/kg has been another reason for cheer as it is the primary cash crop of the predominantly Christian belt of Central Kerala.
Another common feature in many central Kerala villages is the parade of cows, buffaloes and pigs through the village roads by the meat merchants. The cattle heads even display the date and venue of slaughter for the benefit of the prospective customers! The prices of fish, eggs and meat soared and most customers had stocked fish and meat during the lent period itself to beat the hike. Festivities and sumptuous meals apart, Easter just like all other celebrations signify the triumph of goodness over the evil.
'Fish rain’ strikes the villagers dumb!
Published February 15, 2008 | 
Thrissur: Of late, Kerala has been in the news for a spate of strange natural phenomena like colored rains and caving in of wells. Now it is the turn of ‘fish rain’, which is tickling the grey matter of the ordinary Keralites in the sleepy village of Kandanassery.
The local folks were shocked when small fishes started dropping down at the end of a sudden downpour a couple of days back.The strange incident was first noticed by two persons returning home late in the night when small wriggly creatures started falling on their body.
As they were quite sure that there won’t be many takers for this amazing story, they made sure to keep the proof ready to confront many a ‘doubting Thomas’. They picked up some of these slithering fishes and kept them in water filled jars and pails near the village library for everybody to scrutinize! Some fishes got mangled by speeding vehicles while many died.
What could be the scientific reason for this amazing phenomenon? While the ‘red rain’ was said to have caused due to the presence of red algae in clouds scientists opine that ‘fish rain’ is possible when tiny aquatic organisms get lifted to the atmosphere during the formation of convective clouds. these fishes can survive suspended in the clouds as long as the requisite moisture content is available in the clouds. These fishes might have fallen back with the first drops of summer rains.
According to Dr C K Rajan of the School of Marine Sciences of the Cochin University of Science and Technology, there are some fishes that can survive in clouds with very little moisture content. When it rained heavily these fishes might have slumped down to the earth. The fish that ‘rained’ was the same as typically found in ponds and canals in the area according to the villagers.