Chennai is bracing up to celebrate Deepavali with famed Sivakaasi stuff .......

[V.Balasubramani]

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[h=1]Chennai bracing up to celebrate Deepavali with famed Sivakaasi stuff only..[/h][h=1]Vendors hope for cracking time[/h]

Chennai: It is better late than never, so to say. There has been a delay in cracker shops making an appearance in the city but people here are happy that stalls have come up at Island Ground, some nine days ahead of the festival of lights.

There had been reports that vendors couldn’t get clearance certificates which led to a delay in setting up shops for Deepavali. At Island Grounds which is one of the hubs for vendors in Chennai with some 58 stalls has opened to the public on Wednesday.
Despite the delay in setting up stalls, vendors are optimistic of seeing better sales this year. Ramesh, a stall owner, told News Today, "Last year’s sales were dull due to the rains. We are optimistic this year. I have been setting up shop here for six years now and we expect sales of about Rs 15 lakh. New varieties have arrived and they include ‘TV Tower’, ‘Happy Birthday’, ‘Golden Spider’, ‘Beauty 50 Shots’ and ‘Magic Tree’, to name a few. We expect these new arrivals along with the regular best-sellers to bring us profit."

Asked about Chinese crackers, he said, "The government has done its best to keep out Chinese crackers. What we have here is our famed Sivakasi stuff only."

Read more at http://newstodaynet.com/chennai/vendors-hope-cracking-times

 

[vgane]

Let us take a vow to buy only the famed Sivakasi stuff!

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

Let us take a vow to buy only the famed Sivakasi stuff!

Chennai bracing up to celebrate Deepavali with famed Sivakaasi stuff only..

Vendors hope for cracking time

There had been reports that vendors couldn’t get clearance certificates which led to a delay in setting up shops for Deepavali. At Island Grounds which is one of the hubs for vendors in Chennai with some 58 stalls has opened to the public on Wednesday.

Asked about Chinese crackers, he said, "The government has done its best to keep out Chinese crackers. What we have here is our famed Sivakasi stuff only."

Read more at http://newstodaynet.com/chennai/vendors-hope-cracking-times

Sivakasi proves its stuff is not safe even in Sivakasi !

எரியர காெள்ளில எது சுடும்? சுடாது? எல்லாம் நெருப்புடா - அணைக்க முடியுமா? அழிக்கமுடியுமா?

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&r...GxF5UMbxI57jN3HrA&sig2=K4m8VNj9LhFguLSiBmPKJA


How to identify Chinese stuff - According to Sivakasi manufacturers Strike a match if it lights up in a wink it is chinese if it takes few seconds its Sivakasi - Sivakasi no body lighted a match The godown was blown out by friction ! Safety of Sivakasi is a tall claim!

Clearance certificate - This is all about it

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&r...ErWfl2sOBRjHbBwjw&sig2=xVRLOqqM3R3C-vn840gRqQ

 

[V.Balasubramani]

எரியர காெள்ளில எது சுடும்? சுடாது? எல்லாம் நெருப்புடா - அணைக்க முடியுமா? அழிக்கமுடியுமா?

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&r...GxF5UMbxI57jN3HrA&sig2=K4m8VNj9LhFguLSiBmPKJA

என்னடி ....மீனாட்சி ....மலிவு விலையே ..... சாட்சி

Chennaiites know that Sivakasi stuff costs higher whereas Chinese stuff is made available at rock bottom price.

It is price.... one can eaily determine... it does not require a rocket making technology to differentiate Chinese crakers with that of Sivakasi.

There is already a ban on Chinese crackers

Fancy Chinese fireworks will not be up for grabs for customers this Diwali as the government for the first time has enforced guidelines of the Explosives Act, 2008, according to which possession and sale of foreign-made explosives is a punishable act

And as per the reports the Tamil Nadu Government has done its best to keep out Chinese crackers.

And last but not the least …definitely Chennai is not Delhi to ignore such ban…

Get set for a very noisy Diwali: Delhi ignores ban on Chinese crackers

Link: http://www.firstpost.com/india/get-set-noisy-diwali-delhi-ignores-ban-chinese-crackers-1769525.html

I don’t think Delhi has changed much since 2014

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

This is reality - Is there any report of death in accidents invoving Chinese crackers? It is killing only the Sivakasi Industry by hitting hard with price differance ! It is only http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/showthread.php?t=34007


S Maheswaran, executive director, Standard Fire Works says, "We have already established Standard Fire Works China Ltd which has started off with a yearly turnover of Rs 25 crore. We are targeting a 100% growth every year and hope to touch the Rs 100 crore mark by 2008."



Kaleeswari and Soni Fireworks are the other two firms which have gone in for a technical tie up with the Chinese.

Incidentally, China is the world leader in cracker manufacturing and has perfected its technical know-how nearly two decades ago. China got its technology from Europe, France, Italy and the US.



"Today it is exporting crackers worth Rs 2,000 crore to different countries," says Maheswaran.


Standard Fire Works sources crackers from the Chinese and exports it to markets overseas. In fact, Sivakasi is compelled to flock towards China because the government is not very keen on exporting explosives due to the threat of terrororism across the globe. "By disallowing exports were are losing an enormous opportunity," says Maheswaran.



https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwixrM-k_-rPAhUKs48KHUgWCrMQFgg0MAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2Findia%2FSivakasi-fireworks-for-China%2Farticleshow%2F1261775.cms&usg=AFQjCNEpqqphJZC2WI-77JntPHuRAmh-Eg&sig2=gG6JrjY0GZImAHckrXWihg

 

[krish44]

Firing crackers at diwali has got reduced a lot due to campaigns in schools and colleges.

It is now mostly candles, fancy lights and diwali melas with eats and sweets.

Added to it discount buying of gifts and clothes.

Very few celebrate tamil diwali in delhi .

 

[vgane]

It is only local Tamils who celebrate the Tamil Diwali by having an early oil bath, wearing new clothes & bursting some crackers...A visit to local temple is mandatory...It is chotti Diwali for the North Indians in Delhi...Many Tamils preserve crackers for the North Indian Diwali which mostly falls on the next day when it is celebrates in a gala manner with spectacular fireworks lighting the sky in the evening!

 

[imrps]

Timely article Mr.Balasubramani.

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

Timely article Mr.Balasubramani.

This is timely and live Sivalkasi explodes in Coimbatore and rescue operations on!

 

[GANESH65]

I don’t think Delhi has changed much since 2014

This article is only partly true. There are drastic changes in Delhi's mindset towards Chinese products. Not only Crackers, many other chinese products has taken a hit this time and the demand and sales are 20 to 30% less for chinese products. People who have stocked it are finding it difficult to sell off their stocks as per certain articles published in other papers. I also visited Sadar Bazar two days back for some purchase and found many stores displayed boards saying no chinese stocks available..

 

[mkrishna100]

There is one more explosion in a Cracker Storage now in Coimbatore . It does not matter whether it is Sivakasi or Chinese Crackers , if they are not stored with proper safety mechanisms it will cause explosions like these . Many innocent have lost their lives due to these blasts and many are injured severely .

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Implementing a better safety system is the need of the hour..

2 held in connection with Sivakasi accident

Sivakasi: A day after eight people were killed in a firecracker mishap here, the police have arrested two persons in this connection, even as a special task force has been formed to monitor periodically all firework units.

The police said they have registered cases against six persons in connection with Thursday's accident wherein a fire broke out while crackers were being offloaded from a van to a shop-cum-godown.

Shenbagaraman and Ananda Rajan, who were managing the godown and among the six booked, were arrested, they said yesterday.

In a related development, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court took suo motu cognisance of media reports about the mishap and directed government officials to file a report on safety violations that led to the deaths.

Read more at: http://newstodaynet.com/tamil-nadu/2-held-connection-sivakasi-accident

 

[V.Balasubramani]

I don’t think Delhi has changed much since 2014

Going by the following news report, I think my above comment holds good.


‘Banned’ Chinese crackers are a hit in Delhi markets

Despite a ban on sale and use of firecrackers made in China, pop-pops, match crackers, pulling fireworks and other such popular firecrackers continues to be available in abundance in Delhi markets.

When HT visited Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk, and Esplanade Road on Saturday, wholesalers denied having any Chinese crackers for sale. But retailers and street vendors claimed that one could still buy Chinese crackers as long they knew where to look and whom to ask.

Earlier this year, the Centre had banned imported Chinese firecrackers, citing safety reasons. The Delhi government too had vowed to implement this ban in totality.

On Saturday, HT’s search, however, told a different story.

At Esplanade Road, home to the main wholesale firecracker market in the area, firecrackers were spotted in abundance, but no Chinese crackers were visible. “Licensed stores in Delhi do not sell banned crackers,” said a wholesaler, RS Sharma. “We are Indians. Our sales should benefit our own economy and industries only,” he said.

Sagar Chauhan, another wholesaler, added that the ban on Chinese crackers had helped their profits. “Chinese crackers are cheaper as they are made with inexpensive and unsafe materials. The Indian brands are better, safer, and a little more expensive. We are afforded better profits,” he said.

Read more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi...lhi-markets/story-10v4wUWrtdZlshENWFZLzK.html

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

Gods as usual have endorsed 'Sivakasi' like Vishnu Chakaram Linga Bang etc This year they are Swayambu or self ignited !

 

[V.Balasubramani]

SC refuses to ban Diwali crackers, directs Centre to run pollution awareness campaign

New Delhi: Going by the Centre's view against a blanket ban, the Supreme Court has refused to put a ban on crackers on Diwali.

However, the apex court has directed the Centre to publish pollution awareness adverts from Oct 31 to Nov 12.

The SC's ruling came on PIL filed on behalf of three toddlers - Arjun Gopal, Aarav Bhandari and Zoya Rao Bhasin, all aged between 6 and 14 months - seeking immediate steps to curb Delhi's fatal air pollution including ban on fire crackers during Diwali.

The Centre in its submission had argued against a ban and citied a judgment by the Supreme Court in 2001 that allowed crackers from 6.00 am to 10.00 am. N

Appearing for the infants, who moved court through their legal guardians, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal had claimed that the Delhi government had Rs 387 crore to combat pollution, but at least 87 per cent of the funds lie unused.

The PIL had also sought ban on burning of seasonal crops, strict action against those who dump dust, malba and other pollutants without following rules and immediate introduction of Bharat-V or better emission norms into operation uniformly across country.

Source:
http://zeenews.india.com/news/india...-run-pollution-awareness-campaign_1815495.htm

 

[krish44]

It is the chinese lights for decoration.

that has swamped the markets.

The strings of light are beautiful and are good in putting on walls and plants.

Even hanging with lights inside colourful exteriors are nice.

The whole residential colonies are bathed in colourful lights bringing in a festival atmosphere.

I do not care particularly about crackers.

I would like to protect my throat which is in bad shape

Doctors are treating a lot of persons with bad throats due to contaminated air in delhi.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

I would like to protect my throat which is in bad shape

Doctors are treating a lot of persons with bad throats due to contaminated air in delhi.

Take care.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

[h=1]Diwali 'LED' by lights in Chennai[/h]
From electronic diyas to Oreo cookie hampers, younger generation is finding newer ways to keep tradition alive.But old timers bemoan the loss of Ganga Snanam at 3 am, among others

CHENNAI:As millions around the world gear up to celebrate the festival of lights, which is said to mark good over evil and light over darkness, City Express finds out the changing/new trends that seem to be challenging the core traditions of the festival. While, the younger generation does not find this culture new or different, the old timers beg to differ.

Since the number of children in families was often more, parents bought several metres of materials with the same design to stitch dresses for all the children. “We had to wake up at by 2:45 am, apply oil and do Ganga snanam. Sweets were freshly made and we used be given only one sweet of each variety per day by our great grandmother. The most integral part was of course the Diwali marundu, which most of the younger generation haven’t tasted or wouldn’t even like now-a-days,”
recalls 70 year-old Manjula.

While the festival was celebrated as a cultural event in a joint family, many argue that traditions have taken a backseat and it has become a social event. “I remember celebrating Diwali with my entire family. But with time, we turned to the concept of nuclear families and met only during such occasions,” opines Shyamala.

Buying cartons filled with crackers have become a thing of past for several families for various reasons. Firstly, most people have turned to the concept of ‘going green’. Secondly, aged parents who live away from their children say that they don’t have the ‘energy or the interest’. Deepika, shares that she has never been interested in the tradition of bursting crackers. “We were one of those families who never burst crackers and have always been conscious about the environment. Why do it if it’s going to affect us in the future?” she opines.

But some old timers still seem to not get over the years of traditional conditioning. “I have been bursting crackers for 50 years now and I haven’t able to accept the fact that we have to stop that tradition. Somewhere, the child in me wants to burst at least a 1000-wala!” grins Kanakasabesan with a child-like enthusiasm.

From buying clothes online to switching to battery-operated diyas, the heart of the festival has taken a huge shift from traditional to commercial. LED-light diyas, fancy lanterns now adorn the houses instead of the traditional oil lamps Reason? Oil lamps create a mess, and it’s tedious to clean. “I prefer the LED diyas, they are less time consuming and it’s safe to have them when children are around,” says Geetha, a home-maker.

[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD]Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2016/oct/23/diwali-led-by-lights-1531079--1.html
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[krish44]

Take care.

Thanks for your concern.

Best wishes to you and your family for a happy deepawali

 

[krish44]

Diwali 'LED' by lights in Chennai


From electronic diyas to Oreo cookie hampers, younger generation is finding newer ways to keep tradition alive.But old timers bemoan the loss of Ganga Snanam at 3 am, among others

CHENNAI:As millions around the world gear up to celebrate the festival of lights, which is said to mark good over evil and light over darkness, City Express finds out the changing/new trends that seem to be challenging the core traditions of the festival. While, the younger generation does not find this culture new or different, the old timers beg to differ.

Since the number of children in families was often more, parents bought several metres of materials with the same design to stitch dresses for all the children. “We had to wake up at by 2:45 am, apply oil and do Ganga snanam. Sweets were freshly made and we used be given only one sweet of each variety per day by our great grandmother. The most integral part was of course the Diwali marundu, which most of the younger generation haven’t tasted or wouldn’t even like now-a-days,”
recalls 70 year-old Manjula.

While the festival was celebrated as a cultural event in a joint family, many argue that traditions have taken a backseat and it has become a social event. “I remember celebrating Diwali with my entire family. But with time, we turned to the concept of nuclear families and met only during such occasions,” opines Shyamala.

Buying cartons filled with crackers have become a thing of past for several families for various reasons. Firstly, most people have turned to the concept of ‘going green’. Secondly, aged parents who live away from their children say that they don’t have the ‘energy or the interest’. Deepika, shares that she has never been interested in the tradition of bursting crackers. “We were one of those families who never burst crackers and have always been conscious about the environment. Why do it if it’s going to affect us in the future?” she opines.

But some old timers still seem to not get over the years of traditional conditioning. “I have been bursting crackers for 50 years now and I haven’t able to accept the fact that we have to stop that tradition. Somewhere, the child in me wants to burst at least a 1000-wala!” grins Kanakasabesan with a child-like enthusiasm.

From buying clothes online to switching to battery-operated diyas, the heart of the festival has taken a huge shift from traditional to commercial. LED-light diyas, fancy lanterns now adorn the houses instead of the traditional oil lamps Reason? Oil lamps create a mess, and it’s tedious to clean. “I prefer the LED diyas, they are less time consuming and it’s safe to have them when children are around,” says Geetha, a home-maker.

[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD]Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2016/oct/23/diwali-led-by-lights-1531079--1.html[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

I still remember my younger days when we were one big joint family with 15 plus members in delh occupying govt accomodation of six rooms with two verandas

We had boilers with firwood as fuel. The day would start around 4am though it could be cold .Fire crackers would be bought from sadar bazar . Flower pots in mud would be filled with masala of mud mixed with combustible material bought from shops a week in advance and dried in sun for letting go on the diwali day. we

celebrated both our south indian style , the day before north indian diwali early morning and north indian diwali the next night like our neighbours.Cloth was boght in

bulk from ration shops and stitched for all by tailor [family had a favorite tailor for that]. There was socialism as all had shirts of same material and colour. Sweets and

savouries were made home.All crackers were equally divided between all members male and female and kept on angithi medai made of local mud . It would be warm

for next day lighting. Only diyas with home made thiri and oil and one box of candles for lighting crackers judiciously used.Diwali marundu would also be made on the

dau of diwali . There would be the traditional feast for lunch. Music was on AIR -some nadaswaram. We also had an old tape recorder with some karnatic and film

music.There was an old gramaphone for 78 rpm HMV records of carnatic music greats and film music of hindi films.Most would end up with some minor burns due to

crackers or indigestion due to excessive consumption of goodies.

Now there are just two of us . Yet we have not lost the zest for celebrations.We have lighted up with strings of multi colour lights. ,candles and diyas. We as a couple

will burst crackers and light mathappus.Why not?. Now my extended family is distributed in 10 flats in delhi.we visit each other this day. Others in the country and

abroad are wished online or by ringing up and whatsapp.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

I still remember my younger days when we were one big joint family with 15 plus members in delh occupying govt accomodation of six rooms with two verandas

We had boilers with firwood as fuel. The day would start around 4am though it could be cold .Fire crackers would be bought from sadar bazar . Flower pots in mud would be filled with masala of mud mixed with combustible material bought from shops a week in advance and dried in sun for letting go on the diwali day. we

celebrated both our south indian style , the day before north indian diwali early morning and north indian diwali the next night like our neighbours.Cloth was boght in

bulk from ration shops and stitched for all by tailor [family had a favorite tailor for that]. There was socialism as all had shirts of same material and colour. Sweets and

savouries were made home.All crackers were equally divided between all members male and female and kept on angithi medai made of local mud . It would be warm

for next day lighting. Only diyas with home made thiri and oil and one box of candles for lighting crackers judiciously used.Diwali marundu would also be made on the

dau of diwali . There would be the traditional feast for lunch. Music was on AIR -some nadaswaram. We also had an old tape recorder with some karnatic and film

music.There was an old gramaphone for 78 rpm HMV records of carnatic music greats and film music of hindi films.Most would end up with some minor burns due to

crackers or indigestion due to excessive consumption of goodies.

Now there are just two of us . Yet we have not lost the zest for celebrations.We have lighted up with strings of multi colour lights. ,candles and diyas. We as a couple

will burst crackers and light mathappus.Why not?. Now my extended family is distributed in 10 flats in delhi.we visit each other this day. Others in the country and

abroad are wished online or by ringing up and whatsapp.

Krish Ji,

That was a nice contribution of yours.

Thank you for your wishes and I also wish you and the members of your family a very Happy Diwali and pray the Almighty God that you and all members of your family be blessed with rich gifts of good health, happiness, prosperity and long life in abundant measure.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

[SUP]After reading your posting, when I just made entry into our kitchen I was able to feel the aroma of Deepawali Marundu which is a must in the celebration of Deepawali. It was just prepared then. You have just touched this in your posting.
[/SUP]
[SUP]This marundhu used to prepared with incredients of herbs I mean nattu marundu.

When we were living at Santhome, we used procure these items from the ‘Dubba Chetty Shop’ at Kutchery Road, Mylapore and there is an adjacent flour mill which dedicated only for this Marundu.

I would like to share an article on this 'Dabba Chetty Kadai' at Kutcheri Road, Mylapore.
[/SUP]
[h=1]Survivors Of Time: Dabba Chetty Kadai — Medicine Men[/h]
Anusha Parthasarathy on the 127-year-old Dabba Chetty Shop that has been supplying ‘country drugs' to Mylaporeans and people across the world

Tin boxes are stacked on top of each other with their mouths welded open. Dark, wooden cupboards that have long lost their sheen display multi-coloured bottles. Traditional charms hang from the darkened ceiling. A steady stream of customers armed with long hand-written lists patiently await their turn, mindless of the heat and traffic. The Dabba Chetty Shop on Kutcheri Road has survived over a century in the place it initially began, watching Mylapore grow from a quiet neighbourhood into the city's bustling cosmopolitan hub.

Seated on a wooden bench opposite a digital weighing machine, K. Badrinath watches his customers as his fingers drum the fading green sunmica on a wooden table. Four generations down the line, there are few changes in the shop since it began in 1885. “My great-grandfather S. Krishnaswamy Chettiar started it. Of course, one can't be sure why he began a shop that sold herbal medicine, but I've heard that back then, we also sold paint, hardware, provisions and other things. At that time, it was just a small room with a thatched roof. The rafters and the cement roof were put in later on.”

Dabba Chetty Shop has been supplying ‘country drugs' to Mylaporeans and people across the world. Nestled between the many old shops that dot Kutcheri road, Krishnaswamy Chetty chose the area since it was close to Arundale Street, where he lived. Since the store stacked its wares in neat tin containers, customers began calling it ‘Dabba Chetty Kadai'. The name stuck before Krishnaswamy officially named it so.

“Initially, we only sold raw materials for medicines. Over the last few years, we've begun to sell prepared medicines because people don't have the time or the energy to make them,” says Badrinath, “In the old days, you had the ammi kal in which you grind and mix. These days its just mixies and grinders which won't give you the same results. People started asking us to prepare them and now we only sell those.”

Dabba Chetty buys from wholesale merchants in George Town. The shop was popular from the beginning since it was the first in and around the area. “There were always wholesalers in Parrys,” says Badrinath, “and some other shops have come up here as well, but when we started, we were the only ones around. We usually get our raw materials from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and other places. Of course, these are available here too. But for us, quality is important because that has been the reason we've lasted so long. Also, only products that are from their place of origin are of good quality,” he says, while quickly ordering his staff to replace a medicine that a customer claims to have not worked.

Herbal medicines

After Krishnaswamy Chetty, K. Rajamannar Chetty took over the shop. By this time, the sale of paints and provisions was stopped and the shop began to specialise in herbal medicines. In 1905, when the Venkataramana Ayurvedic Dispensery began, the shop's popularity grew. R. Kannaiah Chetty, Badrinath's father took over and Badrinath joined his father at the shop after 1975. “My father would tell me that there were trams that ran through this road. And Nageswararao Park was just a pond. A lot has changed the last few years. But the one positive change I've noticed is that there are now more trees than before,” he says.

The shop's main business comes from post-natal and Deepavali medicines. “We get customers wanting medicines for cold, cough, back pain and headache but our main income comes from the post-delivery medicine that we sell. Our Deepavali leghiyam is also very popular, though we sell it for only about fifteen to twenty days around the festival,” says Badrinath.

There was a slump in business a couple of decades ago, but Badrinath is hopeful of the future.

“Yes for about 10 or 15 years, business was slow, but things are beginning to change. I've seen an increase in the last four or five years and I guess people's attitude towards herbal medicine is changing.” He adds, “These are made from natural materials, most of which are part of our everyday diet. In the old days, if you had a cough, they'd mix a pinch of turmeric in warm milk or give you fenugreek seeds for a stomach ache. Herbal medicine is just food that cures.”

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/features/fr...-chetty-kadai-medicine-men/article2967016.ece