Borassus flabellifer is the scientific name and like most scientific names, a bit of a tongue twister for the palmyra palm a tree that is very much a part of the Indian landscape and its culture. Interestingly, it has male and female flowers on separate plants with the female flowers blooming into fleshy fruit on pollination. More popularly known as ice apples, the sweet jelly like pulp is contained within the fruit in clusters of two or three. When the top of the fruit is cut, the pulp is expo

CHENNAI: In a ceremony held at IIT Madras, Balaji Sampath, founder and CEO of AhaGuru, was felicitated as one of the 100 great IIT-ians for his contributions to Indias growth and development. The felicitation event marked a significant milestone as the first collaborative effort among IITs to recognise and celebrate the achievements of their alumni. The highlight of the event was the presentation of a commemorative book, curated by commander VK Jaitly, showcasing the remarkable accomplishments o

CHENNAI: After the city traffic police issued a warning on Saturday against private vehicles sporting stickers and symbols indicating various departments and professions, doctors and advocates have sought exemption from the crackdown. The Democratic Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association has requested the Greater Chennai Traffic Police to exempt doctors from the ban which is to be implemented from May 2. In a release, the association said the golden hour is important in the cases of cardiac a

CHENNAI: Peyaru dhan Laxmi ana kai la Lakshmi illayae (My name is Laxmi but I dont have any money on me), says Laxmi, a 60-year-old. Taking a jibe at herself, she says, Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and then there is me who her family has abandoned on the streets. During Covid, her son wanted to send her to their native citing that she would be away from the pandemic and safe. Unaware of what the widespread disease was, Laxmi agreed to leave. He brought me here, to the Tambaram Railway Statio

CHENNAI: A 52-year-old man died after allegedly falling from the second floor of his house and onto the terrace of the neighbouring house in Koyambedu on Sunday evening. He was arguing with his tenant and police said they could not ascertain whether the tenant pushed the man. The deceased Michael Durai Pandian (52) owned a three-storey complex in Koyambedu. He was residing on the ground floor while Venkatesan (30) was a resident on the second floor. On Sunday, Venkatesan got into an argument wit

CHENNAI: The city corporation commenced random checks of roads that have been already laid and those where work is still on, on Monday, following allegations of contractors producing fake mix design certificates to the project management consultants (PMCs) engaged by the corporation. Chief engineer S Rajendiran held a meeting with four PMCs that are currently tasked with conducting quality checks for road projects, including endorsing mix design certificates. The PMCs have been asked to produce

CHENNAI: Back in the day, the only fake news we had to worry about were the rumours from nosy neighbours or wild stories from someones aunt. But now, with everything online and information flying at us from every direction, tackling misinformation has become a pressing concern. Against this backdrop, TruthCon: Tackling Misinformation, a TEDx event curated by TEDxNapier Bridge, emerged as a beacon of hope amid this falsehood era. Held at the Kamarajar Arangam last weekend, this event unfolded ove

CHENNAI: Imagine a 116-acre park nestled in the very heart of Chennai, complete with lush greenery, a zoo, and waterbodies as far as the eye could see. This was once the vibrant reality of My Ladies Park in Periyamet, a locale also known as Periamedu. However, presently, the park has dwindled down to a compact garden, one of the last vestiges of a once resplendent place of recreation and relaxation. Earlier, in the late 1800s, this verdant enclosure was known by the name Peoples Park, and the of

CHENNAI: Dance is a universal language which allows you to express yourself without words. In a world so heavily dependent on scripted words, it is all the more imperative that we do not let the light of other means of expression ever dim. International Dance Day on April 29, created in 1982 to honour Jean-Georges Noverre, considered the founder of modern ballet, is a celebration of the language of dance and its role in our lives. With dance having barely left any tangible evidence of its existe

CHENNAI: For artist Chandrasekaran Guruswamy, fondly called as Chandru Master by his students, art doesnt have complicated definitions. Art is not very complex, it is something that makes everybody happy, shares the artist at the ceremony while speaking at Lalit Kala Akademi as a part of Curve Dalit Art and Aesthetics Exhibition. For more than half a century, he has dedicated his life towards arts and activism. Paying reverence to him and other 29 artists, the exhibition presented more than 100

CHENNAI: Walking into the midst of artistes and photography enthusiasts, one gets the sense of a deeply passionate community, connected by the mutual love for capturing memories. This was the atmosphere created at the Chennai Photo Biennale Lighthouse on Saturday at the talk with Kirthana Devdas, a Chennai-based wedding and artistic photographer from Coimbatore. She received the Sahapedia grant in 2018 for her documentation of Thira, featuring a ritual dance tradition from the Malabar region of

CHENNAI: As the summer settles in, frequency of air travel continues to soar. Families flying out for vacations, students returning from abroad, and the usual hubbub of business trips means that the number of flights per day is ever growing. With so many of us frequently hopping on flights, concerns regarding safety are bound to arise. Revolving around the subjects of safety, risks, and angst during flying, on April 23 at Hyatt Regency Chennai, captain Ashim Mittra and captain Nikhil Mathen of I

CHENNAI: The Central Crime Branch has arrested eight people including two former ICICI bank staff on charges of defrauding the bank of `3.57 crore. K Jawahar Perumal (28) and S Karthik (31) who were formerly employed with the bank were arrested along with S Sathish (33), his wife S Sharmila (31), G Dhanasekar (49), S Mahalakshmi (41), her husband D Satishkumar (47) and S Sasirekha (43). The issue came to light during an internal audit, following which the chief bank manager filed a complaint wit

CHENNAI: An eight-year-old girl was found dead at her house in the Perumbakkam on Friday. Police said that she got entangled and accidentally strangled herself while trying to hang on to a towel that she had tied like a cradle on the clothesline. The girl, Ashwathi, was a resident of the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board tenements at Ezhil Nagar in Perumbakkam was at home while both her parents left for work. She had locked the door from the inside. Her grandfather had been sleeping out

CHENNAI: The city corporation is preparing to set up a separate quality control wing to reduce dependency on project management consultants (PMCs) who verify bills and certificates from contractors for road laying works. The move comes in the wake of two contractors allegedly produced fake mix design certificates for laying interior roads. Henceforth, the designated city corporation team will now verify certificates and bills independently. Officials said that civic body engineers who verify the

CHENNAI : If you are an active social media user, you would have come across the viral video of a boy consuming dry ice from an exhibition stall in Davangere, a city in Karnataka, and was allegedly reported dead. The clip shows the counter was named Smoke Biscuits and the vendor served the child a smoky liquid. The child screamed immediately after consuming it. Upon fact checking, it has been proven that the boy had consumed smoke biscuits which contain nitrogen and not dry ice which is nothing

CHENNAI: Athulya Senior Care is offering short-term stays acknowledging the significance of optimal care and attention for elderly family members. Whether its for post- surgery recovery or to entrust elders to safe hands during the upcoming holiday season as families embark on travel plans, Athulya Senior Care provides compassionate support, ensuring seniors well-being and comfort in a safe environment. Residents are actively encouraged to engage in activities that resonate with their interests.

Here are ways to protect your eyes this summer Summer brings longer days, warmer weather, and plenty of outdoor activities. However, along with the fun, it also brings some risks to eye health. The suns intense rays, increased outdoor time, and exposure to various elements can potentially harm your eyes if not properly cared for. As summer has set in, there is a need to protect the eyes from the seasons potential hazards. Longer days, increased outdoor activities, and the intense heat requires s

CHENNAI: Living in a world where our lives are being influenced by Artificial Intelligence in profound ways, separating facts from fiction has never been more necessary than at present. With deep fakes of celebrities surfacing on social media, the days of us being the targets are not very far. Addressing this issue, TEDxNapier Bridge is bringing forward an exhibition and a TEDx Salon under the title TruthCon: Tackling Misinformation. We wanted to explore the topic of misinformation, and hence, w

CHENNAI: The 18-day Koovagam Festival, an annual gathering of transgender women, ended this week. This festival serves as a venue for the community to unite, celebrate their identity, and raise awareness about their issues and rights. A large number of transpersons converged in Villupurams Koothandavar temple for the festival. The last three days are celebrated with great zeal. On the 16th day of the festival, Miss Koovagam fashion show was held, transgender people from across the country gather

CHENNAI: Pothole-ridden roads and damaged stormwater drains with garbage dumped into them greet visitors to the countrys first model industrial estate in Guindy. The southern phase of the estate, which directly employs more than 5,000 people and indirectly 10,000, paints a picture of neglect. The employees are blaming the lackadaisical attitude of SIDCO towards their repeated complaints on bad roads leading to mishaps, some minor and some major. Twenty-seven year-old Shanti, who works as an acco

CHENNAI: Redevelopment works at Chennai Park station have gained momentum, with 50% completion of the proposed works aimed at facilitating seamless passenger transition between the station and Chennai Central, MRTS, and Central metro station. According to official sources, the station serves as a vital point connecting Chennai Central in the Chennai Beach - Chengalpattu section. During rush hours, the entry and exit points of the station witness huge congestion. As part of the redevelopment proj

CHENNAI: Due to the construction of a flyover at Madley Junction, the following traffic diversions will be implemented from Saturday to April 26, 2025. Vehicles coming from North Usman Road towards T Nagar bus stand are prohibited from using the Usman Road flyover near Panagal Park. Instead, vehicles can take the service road of the flyover and reach T Nagar bus stand via Prakasam Road, Bhashyam Road, Thyagaraya Road and Burkit Road. Only buses will be allowed to ply from Burkit Road Mooparappan

CHENNAI: The Triplicane police have booked an Armed Reserve police constable and her two friends for allegedly cheating a traffic police constable to the tune of Rs 7.95 lakh under the pretext of online business. The victim tried to die by suicide in February and is now out of danger. According to sources, P Muniswaran (30) was employed as a constable at Flower Bazaar Traffic Police Station. In November last, he got acquainted with Priya (33), an AR constable, and her two friends Ajin and Anand,

CHENNAI: The price of vegetables in the Koyambedu wholesale market, mainly carrots and beans, has surged due to low supply. Traders anticipate that the prices will remain high for the next two months till the summer heat subsides. The price of beans have spiked to Rs 140 per kg and ginger to Rs 150 per kg. According to the vegetable wholesalers, the rise in price can be attributed to a decrease in yield. Normally, Koyambedu market receives about 450 lorries of vegetables,each with an average cap

CHENNAI: The railway board has given the green light to extend the Chennai Beach - Vellore Cantonment MEMU fast local service up to Tiruvannamalai from May 2. According to official documents, the MEMU local, which departs Chennai Beach at 6pm, reaches Vellore Cantonment at 9.35 pm. From May 2, the train will depart from Vellore at 9.40pm and arrive at Tiruvannamalai at 12.05 am. Similarly, from May 3, the train will depart from Tiruvannamalai at 4am and reach Vellore Cantonment at 5.40am. The tr

CHENNAI: The body of Sharmila, wife of Praveen, who died following a suicide attempt , was handed over to her in-laws on Thursday. Her husband Praveen was killed by a five-member gang, including the girls brother, in February in a case of honour killing. There were some procedural delays, so the body was handed over today. The family were willing to accept the body, said a police official, adding that media reports on the family refused to accept the body were untrue. Sharmilas husband G Praveen

CHENNAI: A three-member gang attacked and robbed a cab driver after hiring his vehicle early on Wednesday from Madhavaram. According to the Madhavaram police, the victim was identified as Haranchand Srihar (23) of Thiruthuraipoondi in Tiruvarur. He was working as a cab driver in Chennai and was residing at Gummidipoondi. On Wednesday morning, Haranchands cab was booked by a customer. He went to a spot at Kodungaiyur and three men got in. As the vehicle was moving, one of the men attacked Haranch

CHENNAI: After a viral video in which a child appears to be in severe pain after consuming liquid nitrogen, and later died, in Karnataka, food safety officials here said that they would be submitting a risk analysis report to the state government following which it will decide the next course of action. P Satheesh Kumar, designated food safety officer, said that after the viral video and the discussion around it, they have been conducting awareness drives for hoteliers, caterers, bar tenders etc

CHENNAI: Twelve people were arrested on charges of selling IPL tickets, for the Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants match that was held at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk on Tuesday, at exorbitant prices. The Triplicane police have seized 56 tickets worth Rs 1.4 lakh from them. A team led by inspector of D-1 Triplicane police station were monitoring Chepauk Cricket Ground and its surrounding areas - Pattabiram Gate, Wallajah Road, Bells Road, Wallaja Road Junction, Victoria Hostel Roa

CHENNAI: Residents of Kannagi Nagar are grappling with health issues owing to poor quality of drinking water supplied to their homes. For nearly two months now, they have been receiving water that exceeds permissible levels of total dissolved solids (TDS). According to metro water officials, the contamination is due to rust in the iron pipes through which water is supplied from the sumps. They added that the TDS levels in the water range from 700-1,000 ppm, while the permissible levels for potab

CHENNAI: Long gone might be the days when many of us hurriedly completed our daily tasks, eagerly seeking out the quietest corner of our homes, adjusting the radio antenna, and tuning in to our favourite shows. Yet in a similar fashion, today, most of us have our preferred podcasts whose new episodes we eagerly wait for to listen to. Whether its captivating stories, informative discussions, or engaging celebrity interviews, podcasts have become an important medium of consumption. While creating

CHENNAI: Nila nila odi va...a song that grandfathers sing to put their toddlers to sleep, one that mothers sing while feeding their child, and a catchy tune we unknowingly hum when we look at the bright full moon. Beyond the traditional narration, this Tamil rhyme is now getting a facelift in the form of an audiobook, an idea initiated by T4Tales. An independent publishing house specialising in creating interactive board books for children in various Indian languages since 2015, T4Tales was born

CHENNAI : At times when resistance is a necessity and discussion on injustices is a priority, Neelam Cultural Centres Vaanam Art Festival uses art as a tool to speak about subversion. Immersed in colours and stories of everyday lives of the working class and oppressed communities, Niththam Photography Exhibition under the festival at Art Kin Centre brings the stories filtered behind these colours into the limelight. Everywhere in terms of culture and hegemony, art galleries are dominated by Sava

Sulking and disobeying were tactics we adopted as children to navigate our way with adults. Desperate parents succumbed to this silent blackmail and thus was accomplished many childhood desires. Not surprisingly, our land also showed a world that was weary of violent revolutions and wars what the power of non cooperation can truly achieve for a nation and its people. Our independence from colonial rule was largely attained when Indians, led by Mahatma Gandhi, simply decided to peacefully disobey

Feminism f-ed up our society, completely, the actor Nora Fatehi said in an interview on the BeerBiceps YouTube channel earlier this month. Only minutes earlier, Fatehi had spoken about a fire within her to prove haters wrong and how her undivided attention was on her work, leaving no time for relationships by choice (and partly because of a relationship experience that had frightened her). Suddenly, she put forth a contrary view, praising the need for conservative gender roles and how life would

CHENNAI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras organised a Global Hyperloop Conference on April 20 and 21 at its research park. Titled Parivahan, the conference aimed to introduce the futuristic concept of hyperloop to India, providing a global platform for innovative teams. It showcased Hyperloop concepts in a bid to foster a transformative spirit among young minds in the field of transportation, said a statement from IIT-M. The conference brought together leading companies, visionary

VILLUPURAM: In a vibrant celebration of inclusivity and tradition, the district hosted the 21st edition of the annual Koovagam beauty pageant on Monday. The event, renowned for its unique cultural significance, witnesses participants from the transgender community come together from various states to showcase their talents, beauty, and grace. Higher education minister K Ponmudy, along with former district chairperson K Janagaraj, district chairperson Kalaiselvi Prabhu and other officials took pa

CHENNAI: In the world of gastronomy, certain individuals possess a rare talent that transcends the mere act of cooking; they are culinary artists who weave stories through their dishes, creating experiences that linger in the memory long after the last bite. Among these luminaries stands Chef Anna Polyvieu, a maestro of the kitchen whose culinary creations evoke emotions, provoke thought, and celebrate the essence of food in its purest form. Chef Anna talks to CE about her new found love for Ind

Gods own country, Kerala is known for its picturesque landscape, and coastline, and also has a diverse food culture which is very unique. The three main communities Hindu Pandits, Christians, and Muslims have their own drastically different food habits and cuisines with the common undertone of coconut oil, coconut, spices, and fresh produce. The origin of the Syrian Christian culinary heritage dates back to the time of St Thomas coming to India and his followers intermingling with the powerful

CHENNAI: After a sweltering morning when the sun melts into the deepening hues of blues and oranges in the evening, the city shines with a warm glow of streetlights, and sweet scent of chocolate wafting through the air in several avenues. On trailing this aroma we find a vibrant cart with warm lights and a tempting array of desserts. Whether gathered in search of an unwinding escape from the office, a spontaneous meet-up with folks, or a romantic date with a crush, these bustling kiosks welcome

CHENNAI: American actress and acting teacher, Stella Adler, once said, The word theatre comes from the Greeks, which means the seeing place. It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation. Staging real-life narratives on how one treats a slave and sending a social message that everybody is powerful but the use of it changes, is the play Pattanathil Bhootham by Sathya Sai Creations. With this play, the 33rd Kodai Nataka Vizha by Kartik Fine Arts was inaugurated a

After realising the impact relationships have on individuals and the effects her own relationships have had on her tribe, Puja Puneet, the founder of Life by Design, decided to step into the arena of relationships. She has come up with her first post-pandemic live workshop. A transformative experience in the romantic exploration of women that helps relationship to become great from good is how the life coach and author of Unlocking the Golden Cage explains her workshop The Love Bubble. Focused o

CHENNAI: Amid the verdant fields, almost 33 kms away from the city, in Thirukandalam village, Tiruvallur district, preparations for a new health centre are ongoing. The village, which houses almost 3,000 people, mostly Dalits, had been distant from the vital services, especially healthcare. There is no health care facility around the three-kilometre radius of the village, shares Sudha Ramalingam, managing trustee of Manonmani Trust. Established in 2006, the trust focuses on elder care, health an

CHENNAI: A 34-year-old man has been detained by police in connection with the death of a six-year-old girl, whom the man claimed drowned in a bathtub in Puzhal on Monday. The deceased, V Tejaswini, is survived by her mother V Divya (31) and brother Kathirvel. The 34-year-old man had been living with Divya and her children since last year, after she separated from her husband. On Monday, Divya left Tejaswini in the landlords portion of the building before leaving for work, since the man who was l

CHENNAI: The VR shopping mall in Thirumangalam received a bomb threat over a phone call, which later turned out to be a hoax. The police are yet to identify the caller. The mall management alerted the police following which the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad reached the mall with sniffer dogs. After thoroughly checking the premises, the threat was declared to be fake. A spokesperson from VR Chennai said, In response to recent media reports and rumours regarding a potential threat to the mall,

CHENNAI: Parking vehicles in Anna Nagar will become dearer soon as the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) is proposing a parking project with an hourly fee. Within this financial year, the projects pilot phase will be executed on 5 sq.km area in Anna Nagar (covering 23 km of road network). This will make CUMTA the lone agency carrying out and regulating parking management in Chennai. Sources said the CUMTA has already completed a detailed study of the area and is likely to

In the game Harold Halibut, I play as Harold, the handyman on board the Fedora. When it crash-landed during its mission, the spaceship Fedora, stayed in stasis for years, caught in the waters of an alien planet. It left Earth during the height of the cold war, and now, generations have passed. Hardly any of the inmates remember why they left their comfortable planet in the first place. As you can imagine, there is a very real feeling of cabin fever on board. It cant help when a strange message f

CHENNAI : With the fashion world leaning towards sustainability, if the accessories that accompany these also follow suit, the industry can certainly be said to be moving towards a better future. Bringing a unique concept in line with this thought to the city is Aabaranam. The jewellery store in Adyar has handpicked collection and it rents out these pieces rather than selling them. The store was inaugurated by film actor Upasana RC along with singer Soundarya Bala Nandakumar on Sunday. The store

The Thazhuva Kuzhaindishwarar is a small Siva temple in Padappai, which is mid-way between Chennai and Kanchipuram. There is a connection between this temple, the Kamakshi Amman temple in Mangadu (one of the suburbs of Chennai) and the Ekamranatha temple in Kanchipuram. According to the ancient lore (Sthala Puranam) of the Mangadu temple, Goddess Parvati was cursed by God Siva to come down to earth as She had playfully closed His eyes and the entire world had come to a standstill. In Mangadu, Pa