Accapanda Kashi Kuttappa (76), former Assistant Director in the Agriculture Department and a Guinness Record holder for tallest home-grown cactus, passed away at his residence in Siddarthanagar this morning.
He leaves behind his wife Jyothi, daughters Smitha and Neetha, sons-in-law and a host of relatives and friends. Last rites were performed at the foot of Chamundi Hill this noon, according to family sources.
The cactus Kashi Kuttappa
and his family members had grown reached a record height of 45.8 feet and had fetched him the Guinness Record. Kashi himself had said that it took him and his family 22 years to grow the cactus that towered above his home. It is of Cactus-Cereus Grandflora that belongs to the family of ‘cactaceae’. This cactus is widely grown in the tropics of dry tracts and suits the desert climate.
Several tourists and nature lovers used to frequent Kashi’s house at Siddarthanagar to see the wonder plant. In fact, the road to Kashi’s house was arbitrarily named ‘Cactus Road’ and he was famous as ‘Cactus Kashi’.
The plant was grown and nourished since 1978 when it was 2.5 ft. tall. The Guinness Book of Records authorities accepted the cactus as the tallest and issued a certificate for the first time on Jan. 20, 1993 when the cactus was 35 feet 1 inch. The Guinness Records authorities awarded the longest cactus certificate for the second time in 1998, when the cactus had grown to the height of 44 feet and 9 inches.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 27th, 2021
Coorg Institute of Technology, Ponnampet, Kodagu, will be organising a special lecture on “An insight into Civil Services Exam” at its premises in Ponnampet at 11 am on Apr. 28.
Mysuru SP R. Chetan, an alumnus of the college will deliver the special lecture, which is organised by the Alumni Association of the College.
For details, contact Mob: 95355-42005 or visit www.citcoorg.edu.in, according to a press release.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / April 26th, 2022
One of the pieces from Label Arati | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
An exhibition showcasing the intricacies of dyeing will be held at Bangalore International Centre this weekend
Vibrant colours, striking patterns and flowy fabrics — much goes into the final product that one wears without much thought. However, for those who would like to get into the nuances of dyes and textiles, Bangalore International Centre (BIC) will be hosting an exhibition, ‘Natural dye stories by Label Arati,’ and related workshops from April 30 to May 3.
Conceptualised and curated by Arati Monappa who established the label, the exhibition will showcase various dyeing and embroidery techniques in use by Indian artisans.
“The purpose of this exhibition is to showcase the beauty of natural dyes. It is an assemblage of pieces coloured with natural dye, which I started gathering; today we have over 100 Indian practitioners who use natural dye and over 300 pieces are going to be on display,” says Arati, who adds that the event was initially meant to mark the label’s 25th anniversary which got delayed due to the pandemic.
“I had a lot of leftover fabric from over the years, which were used for cushions and other furnishings. We also rewove some of those remnants into fabric — all these pieces will be installed at the exhibition,” she says.
Apart from the release of a book documenting the journey of Label Arati, five natural dye workshops will also be held. Workshops on Eco Printing, Natural Dyes and Natural Mordant Dyeing, Dyeing with Kitchen Waste and two on the traditional techniques of Mata ni Pachedi from Gujarat and Kalamkari, will be held. The fee for the courses range from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000.
A pomegranate peel dyed cotton sari by EcoFab Bharat | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A mordant is a substance used to affix dye to fabrics and are not usually plant-based. The use of natural dyes dates back to India’s Vedic period when the Indian Madder (Rubia cordifolia, commonly known as manjistha) was used to obtain red pigment, says Pushyamitra Joshi of EcoFab Bharat, Indore, who will be hosting one of the workshops at the exhibition. “The leaves and bark of the Lodh tree (Symplocos racemosa) can be used as a mordant in place of alum. This makes its use and subsequent disposal totally safe for the craftsman and the environment,” he says.
A demonstration of eco printing by Leafage | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Pushyamitra will demonstrate how to dye fabric using Lodh as a mordant and participants will be provided with kits containing Lodh and manjistha to replicate the process at leisure. “Apart from reviving an ancient practice, the use of plant-based mordants ensures brighter shades as it is more potent. That it is completely eco-friendly is a huge plus,” he adds.
Pune-based Shraddha Barde of Leafage will conduct a workshop on eco-printing, which she believes is both an art and science. “Every leaf, even if it is from the same tree is of a different shape and composition, so every piece is one of a kind. It is perhaps the purest method of printing as one transfers the colour present in leaves directly onto the fabric — it is a natural process, using natural methods,” says Shraddha. She will cover the basics of the technique following which participants will try their hand at eco-printing.
An eco printed piece from Leafage | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The exhibition will feature an embroidery collection by designer Asif Shaikh as well as rugs, masks in natural dyes, block print samples and recycled pieces. “Though there is no sale of the pieces on display, there will be a catalogue of the collection and one can write down if they are interested in a particular piece. If it doesn’t go into our permanent collection, it will be available at a price, later. There will also be a sale of the pieces that are not used at the exhibition,” says Arati.
‘Natural dye stories by Label Arati,’ will be on at Bangalore International Centre from April 30 to May 3. To register for the workshops, contact 080 41279127 or whatsapp 9448648576.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style / by Ruth Dhanraj / April 28th, 2022
Travel videos uploaded on his YouTube channel are gaining appreciation and he dreams to travel the country penniless.
A video grab of Vinay Kumar hitching a ride on a strangers bike in one of his trips
Madikeri :
A hitchhiker from Kodagu has gained popularity for his unique travel approach.
An ambitious explorer, he brings to the fore the hospitality of Indian families and the welcoming nature of strangers. Travel videos uploaded on his YouTube channel are gaining appreciation and he dreams to travel the country penniless.
“The passion for travelling almost always comes with a baggage of huge monetary requirements. But I wanted to check if I can travel without money. My first hitchhiking trip was to Sringeri, where strangers dropped me to my destination without demanding money,” shared Vinay Kumar, a travel enthusiast who works as a HR recruiter. An M.Com graduate, Vinay recently completed his studies and is currently working from home in Madikeri. During the weekends, he explored a few places and that is when his unique travel story took shape.
From his home in Madikeri, Vinay hitchhiked a ride on a Saturday morning and reached the highway. He requested for free rides from strangers on bikes, truck, car, taxi and electric bike and reached Sringeri while taking several pit stops.
“I left Madikeri on Saturday and returned home on Sunday. Even on my return, I hitchhiked rides,” he shared. Apart from free commute, Vinay also succeeded in getting free breakfast and lunch. The videos of his interactions with locals and families show the hospitality and welcoming nature of citizens.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / April 29th, 2022
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