P.A. Aziz College of Engineering and Technology, Karakulam, Trivandrum is organising PAACET festival – a national level technocultural fest from the 11th of March 2010 – 14th March 2010.

The technical and cultural competition are open to the students of colleges affiliated to universities particularly in the Southern states. The 151 sovereign 22 carot Gold Rolling Trophy in the fond memory of late P.A. Aziz is  being offered to the College securing the overall championship.

The main attraction of this years festival is the live Musical concert by the singing sensation of bollywood – Shaan & His band on 14th of March 2010 at the Nishagandhi open air auditorium

Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum organising a painting exhibition with the paintings by Pragati Chattopadhyay, whose focus is on “woman in her soft, sombre and ambiguous moods “. Famous actor and director Madhupal inaugurated the exhibition on 8 March at Art gallery, Alliance Française de Trivandrum.

The exhibition is open to the public from 10am-6pm till the 20th of March 2010.The exhibition is organised as part of the International womens day celebrations by the french cultural centre.

Trivandrum is hosting the national theatre festival 2010. The festival will be inaugurated on the 10th of March 6.30 pm at Tagore theatre vazhuthakadu. The festival will span 8 days from 10th march to 17th march 2010

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Schedule

Get ready for another party at the party den of Trivandrum – purple lounge. Virgin mobile presents DJ NITE Tunes & Tonic on the 14th of March.

Tickets are available at Ambrosia outlets in Kesavadasapuram, Kowdiar, Technopark, bakery jn, Style plus kowdiar and all spice kuravankonam.

Couple entry : Rs. 600/

Stag entry : Rs. 400/

To know more about purple lounge check out this post

Screening Schedule :

13th March 2010

10.00-11.15

Dam/Age Aradhana Seth/50m/2002/India/Uk

Traces writer Arundhati Roy’s bold and controversial campaign against the Narmada Dam

Say No to Plastic / Priyanka Chhabra/1m/2008/India

An animation against the usage of plastic bags

Rehana : A Quest for Freedom / Gargi Sen & Priyanka Mukherjee/29m/ 2007 India

Rehana Adib is a woman from a minority community, a mother of six, a crusader for social change..

11.30-1.30

Mukand and Riaz / Nina Sabnani / 9 m/ 2005 / India

An animation film about two friends seperated by the partition of India and Pakistan

There was a Queen ( Yi As Akh Padshah Bai) / Kavita Pai& Hansa Thapliyal/105 m/ 2007/ India

Through the lives of Kashmiri Women- proud and Strong- the film explores what peace means and it can come about

2.00-4.00

The furnished Room/ Priyanka Chhabra / 9m / 2008/ India

An experimental film on the continuous passage of time based on a story by O’Henry of the same name

This is Me..Is This Me? / Siri Devi Khandavilli / 2m/ 2009/ India/USA

An experimental work on the filmmaker’s relationship with her body

Skin Deep / Reena Mohan / 82m/ 1998/ India

Exploring body image and self-identify among contemporary middle class women in urban India

Defiant Art (1 segment)/ Sharni Jayawardana/10m/2003/ Sri Lanka

An enquiry into the nature and purpose of art today, especially in a time of crisis and conflict in Sri Lanka

4.30-6.30

Notes on Man Capture / Nandini Bedi / 43m /2008/ India

About Ratmi’s marriage, the Garo tradition of ‘man capture’ and the players behind the event

The celebrations commence with a first time presentation of paintings by Pragati Chattopadhyay, whose focus is on “woman in her soft, sombre and ambiguous moods “.The exhibition will be inaugurated by famous actor and director Madhupal on 8 March at Art gallery, Alliance Française de Trivandrum.

The highlight of the celebrations is the “ASIAN WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL” at Kalbhavan Theatre on 13 and 14 March, which  showcases an incredible package of more than 20 documentary films by some of the most famous Women directors.

Government Engineering College, Barton Hill, Trivandrum conducting a National level  inter-collegiate techno-cultural festival -Aagneya 3.0. The third edition of Aagneya– is being conducted across the Sooryakanthi, Nishagandhi and Kanakakkunnu Palace Grounds from March 5th to 7th , 2010.

Aagneya 3.0 brings together technical skill and cultural exuberance to awe and entertain spectators in turn, as a plethora of innovative and inspiring events challenge the wit and talent of participants dying to prove their mettle at the battlegrounds of passion and skill. In addition to the traditional Family Nite, and a live concert led by none other than popular playback singer Naresh Iyer, this year brings to you an Auto Expo on a scale you have never seen before.Catch all this and lots more, through the 3 days of non-stop fun and action at Aagneya 3.0.

Full Throttle 2010 arranged as part of Aagneya 3.0 presents an Auto Expo, Go Karting and armory expo.

University College of Engineering,Kariavattom is organising a techno cultural fest Yuva 2010 on the 3rd and 4th of March 2010. Techzilla – The project presentation, Fashion Show, Auto Expo and Stunt Show are the main attractions of Yuva 2010.

10 cultural events like Mr and Mrs Yuva, Voice Hunt, Catch the beatz, Resonant Rythm, Adzap, Crack the min, Choreo Junk, Split Persona, Nerves out, Frame the face and 10 technical competitive items like are also there as part of the event. For more information on Yuva logon to their website

While roaming around Trivandrum i saw the city being decked up for the annual event of Attukal Pongala . Colours of all hues brighten up the city, people of all shades put in their efforts to appease their  Attukal Amma, come Sunday. Enthusiasm all around, I for once was humbled.Everyone is playing their part in equal measure. From the big shopping malls to the road side vendor every one lines up to make something for themselves and also play a part. The huge line of pots along the roadside is something one cannot miss, but for being blind. Men and women display their pots of all sizes to devoted women in the hope that the offering would well be cooked in their pots.

I stopped by for a snap and also some chit chat with one of the vendors. Hearing Sivan(name changed) tale was as as good as it gets though a bit cliched.

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Hailing from Neyattinakara on the border with Tamil Nadu this gentleman along with his mom and grandmother has been selling pots which is procured from Tamilnadu for the past 15 years. A porter by profession Pongala is his gateway to some quick money courtesy Attukal Amma’s blessing. Its a refreshing change he says from the back breaking work to that of a pot seller. He will go back with money and satisfaction too for Amma’s blessing in helping out the gentle womenfolk to carry out thier offering will in no way go unnoticed . This is is his slice of destiny and  I for a moment closed my eyes in divine reverence.

The sixth iteration of Tech A Break will come to an end today with  the fashion show. This annual celebrations of the employees of technopark is the occasion where the techies take a break from their tight schedules and enjoy to the core. Each moment in Tech a Break will remain in their minds for the next one year.

photo courtesy: Aneesh Vallery NEST

The main attractions of this years tech a break included the Rally,Dance Competition and the Benney Dayal in concert Rock Show.