Events 2015

Film Screening: India’s Disappearing Beaches – A Wake Up Call – Aug. 19, 2015

At 6.30 p.m. At Edouard Michelin Auditorium, Alliance Française of Madras

‘India’s Disappearing Beaches – A Wake Up Call’ is a non-profit film produced in interest by Shekar Dattatri for Pondy Citizens’ Action Network (PondyCAN).In just 15 minutes one can discover why India’s beaches are eroding at an alarming rate, and what needs to be done to stop this disaster from spreading further.  The film explains how coastal erosion takes place, especially human induced erosion, and how it is possible to not only prevent man-made erosion but to restore lost beaches through the right measures.

This will be followed by a panel discussion by eminent personalities.

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Walk: Living Statues of Marina Beach – Aug. 23, 2015

Starts at 7.30 a.m.

Meet at the Kannagi Stature, Marina Beach. (Bharathi Salai).

Brief dramatic enactments of six historical figures (Kannagi, NSC Bose, Thiruvalluvar, GU Pope, Bharathidasan, and Avvaiyar). In Tamil and English.

Open to the public. Free. Please contact the WSI if you might like to perform one or more of the figures, or read aloud poetry written by them.

Contact: World Storytelling Institute, www.storytellinginstitute.org 98403 94282

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Australia in Chennai: A Photographic Exhibition on 60 years of Australian Cricket History in the City – Aug. 7 to 23, 2015

From Aug. 7 to 23, 2015 in the lobby of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, TTK Road.

The Australian Consulate-General, Chennai has organized this photographic exhibition and this coincides with the tour of the Australia-A cricket team to Chennai. The show chronicles memorable and historic moments from the ten Test matches and four One Day Internationals that Australia has played in Chennai.

The exhibition will be open to the public and will be on display at the lobby of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, TTK Road, Chennai.

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Walk inside Queen Mary’s College Campus, Marina – Aug. 22, 2015

Heritage cum Flora Walk inside the QMC campus. Walk led by Dr. Uttra Prabhu and V.Vasantha (both Alumnae) and the Flora walk by A. Thilagavathy, Asst. professor of Botany QMC, simultaneously.
Starts at 7.15 a.m. and will last for around two hours. People are to assemble in front of Kalai Maligai that faces the Marina. Free. Participation by registration only. e-mail nithinal.balaji677@gmail.com

The college has just completed 101 years and has many heritage, stately buildings of British era standing tall. Similarly trees of more than 100 years adorn our campus along with some rare herbal plants.

Contacts: Dr. Uttra Prabhu 9840447830
V.Vasantha 9940140302
A.Thilagavathy 9486888849

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Walk: From Ireland to Madras’ shores – Aug. 23, 2015

Walk narrating the story of the first missionaries – the nuns of Presentation of BVM congregation

Start point – VOC statue, outside Madras Port, opp. Customs House, Rajaji Salai, George Town. At 6.45 am.

Led  by Vincent D’ Souza. Walk through George Towne, ends at St Mary’s Cathedral, Armenian Street.
By Walk – 2 hrs. Open to all. Free. No regn reqd.

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Photowalk for kids: Bylanes off Bhageeratha’s place – Aug. 22, 2015

Walk and click from the busy Purasawalkam High Road to the once quite bylane, Vellala Street. Get to know the history of the street where famous personalities like R.K. Narayan, R.K. Laxman, writers ‘Marina’ and SaVi. The 2000 year old Gangadeeswarar & Pankajakshi temple, the Srinivasa Perumal temple and the Bhajanai Koil.

The legend of Gangadesswarar temple goes like this. It was the place directed by a voice (அசிரீரி) to King Bhageeratha to place the 1008th linga to cure a curse and worship Lord Shiva. It was a spot sung by Sundarar in Thevaram. And the temple well is supposed to never dry up at all.

Over the years, Vellala Street has changed from being a quiet bylane of Purasawalkam High Road to a noisy commercial area. But one landmark still remains – the Srinivasa Perumal temple. Originally there was a bhajanai koil here with a small stone idol which can be seen even today in the main sannidhi. The bhajanai koil was built more than 300 years ago. The present temple came into existence in 1850.

Starting Point: Vasanth & Co, Purasawalkam High Road, Opp. BSNL
Route: https://goo.gl/maps/6xNpG
Duration: 1 hour
Reporting Time: 6.45 a.m.

Walk led by Ramaswamy N of The Chennai Photowalk. Organised by YOCee. Contact Revathi: 9840544629 (after Aug. 16)
Bring your own cameras. Dress easy. Carry a cap, water, light snacks.
Parents can accompany the kids, but children click.

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Bicycle Ride: Cooum River Heritage Ride – Aug. 16, 2015

Starts at 5.00 a.m. Organised by Cycling Yogis.

The Cooum River starting near Kesavaram traverses around 74 km before before merging with the sea at Napier Bridge, it represents a wide swathe of Chennai’s history, the most well known localities, the most graceful of buildings, the most vibrant of communities and all that came up on the banks of the Cooum. Most of the important events, many with national and even global consequence, happened here on these shores. The river site witnessed some of the most crucial battles in South Indian history, it consist of important shrines of every religion that has lived here, also seen path breaking developments in science and graceful architecture

Limited seats on be first cum first basis.
Arrangements are being made to provide breakfast and lunch to all the participants free of cost during the ride
Vehicle Parking at the Start Point is on first cum first serve basis.

RIDERS INSTRUCTIONS:
1. The ride will start at 5.00 am on Sunday,16th August from CISF Guest House, Port of Madras and finish at Sathyam Grand, Sriperumbudur tentatively by 12 noon
2. The total ride distance is approx 75Km.
3. From Sathyam Grand, Sriperumbudur both the Riders and their Cycles would be transported back to the Starting Point.
4. The ride is free of cost and has no registration fees.
5. Helmet is mandatory. No helmet, No Ride.
6. Please wear bright coloured clothing to enhance visibility.
7. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of your belongings. The organizers of the ride cannot be held responsible for any eventualities.
8. Obey all the traffic rules.
9. The road will not be closed for the event.
10. Ensure that your bicycle is in a good and safe-to-ride condition.
11. Ride in a Single File and keep to the left.
12. Do not overtake and ride aggressively.
13. Be within the Group
14. Bicycle tags must be produced before taking the delivery of bicycle.
15. Cycling Yogis reserves the right to limit the number of participants
16. All the participants should sign Indemnity Document before the start of the ride.
17. Registration is required for all to participate in the ride.
18. Clicking the submit button and filling up the registration form means, you have read, understood and will abide by the instructions given above.

Post Registration, a mail will be sent confirming your participation.

Click on the link to Register:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ikzL0DR5iQlGZRTKyBMdoEDkHrQUNWcvh_uXLehtonU/viewform?c=0&w=1

Contact Ramanujar Moulana at  +91 9884023123

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Food Trail: Mint Street – Aug. 22, 2015

The food trail will take you to some North Indian Snack joints in and around Mint Street to give you a taste of the rich food offers in this part of our city. You will also get a feel of Mint neighbourhood.

Contact Prema ~ 24986651 (during office hours), No registration charges, but you will need to pay for the snacks you wish to sample.

Start point: Kakada Sweets, New 348 / Old 343 (Near Jain Temple), Mint Street, Sowcarpet, Chennai – 600079. Starts at 4.30 p.m. and ends at 6.00 p.m

Directions: Reach flower bazaar police station. Turn left to join NSC Bose Road. Turn into Mint Street on right side, walk for 5 minutes and you will see Kakada Sweets on the left side.

Note: Since this is a very crowded area with no parking facility, we suggest you come by auto and walk to start point.

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Heritage Walk Cum Sail – Aug. 9, 2015

Starts at 6.30 a.m.

Walk led by V Sriram inside the Chennai Port Trust. After the walk, the paricipants can visit a sunken ship and view Chennai from the sea as EMDEN saw Chennai before bombing.
Two options to register:
1. The walk, breakfast, visit to sunken ship – Rs. 850 per head
2. The walk, breakfast – Rs. 550 per head

Organised by Royal Madras Yacht Club
Contact Chinna Reddy at 97910 40668, 96772 03086, Email shiva@swamynath.com

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Walk: The City and its Cinema – Aug. 29, 2015

An introduction to the fascinating history of cinema in Chennai followed by a walk across Prasad Studios and Prasad Labs. This walk will offer a unique opportunity to see what an actual studio floor looks like.
The walk will be led by Mr. Venkatesh Chakravarthy, Regional Director of L.V. Prasad Film & TV Academy
From 9.30 a.m. to 12 noon.
Starting Point: Entrance gate of L. V. Prasad Academy, Saligramam
Ending Point: Entrance gate of L. V. Prasad Academy, Saligramam
Registration: There are NO charges for this walk. However prior registration is required so that necessary arrangements can be made to visit the studio floors. Please register by sending mail to: rajith.bala@gmail.com

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Dancing in the Parlour – Aug. 23, 2015

An evening of Madras Presidency’s Sadir, Music, History and Storytelling. Open to all.
At 6.15 p.m. At The Luz House. 176, Luz Church Road, Mylapore.

Celebrated Sadir performers, musicians and composers engaged with the British gentry, their
customs and cultures in their own unique style through art. An evening of Sadir, music and
dialogues with Sundari, Ranganayaki, Sivaramaiyya, Pilli Narasimha Rao Naidu and others in the parlour of the famous Luz House, Mylapore; Javalis and Salams for King George V when he visited India and the English company Dorai-s

Concept and performance: Dr. Swarnamalya Ganesh and Ranga Mandira ensemble
Contact: Ranga Mandira-9840424703

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Walk: Story of Chintadripet is the story of Madras – Aug. 22, 2015

Led by Pradeep Chakravarthy. No fee. Open to all. Group size 35.

From 7 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Meeting place – the small mandapam in front of the Shiva temple. Nainiappan st.
Car parking – is limited to the narrow lanes that lead to the two temples.
Contact Pradeep via email – pradeepchakravarthy75@gmail.com on or before Aug 16th.

Dress code – Men – preferably veshti/dhoti with a shirt/t-shirt. Trousers are ok if you don’t have a belt that can hold the veshti up!! Women – Sarees/Salwars. Either way – no shorts please!
There may be “no-photography” rules inside the temple but you can click away outside.

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