Nalambalam at Ramapuram

A Nalamabalam is a group of temples whose deities are Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrughna. One such Nalambalam situated at Ramapuram, Koodappulam, Amanakara and Methiri of the Ramapuram Panchayat is fast becoming a favourite halt of Sabarimala Pilgrims, reports Deepika. These four templeas are situated within a perimeter of less than 3 km, which is a peculiarity.

Visiting all the four temples the same day before Uchapooja chanting Namams is considered to absolve the sins. During the month of Karkidaka and on the first day of every Malayalam month, the number of pilgrims increases. There are also provisions for the comfort of Sabarimala pilgrims in these temples.

The Koothattukulam-Ramapuram-Pala route is the shortest route for pilgrims travelling to Sabarimala from Kerala's northern districts and other southern states.

The "Barbarian" Way

Silverine contrasts the Rosary recitals of the "Palai Barbarians and Changanassery Genteels".

Andy goes to Pala

Andrew Smith, a social worker from the US attends a retreat, watches a movie and visits an NGO in Palai.

Pala Narayanan Nair rues Malayalee's Identity Crisis

Poet and Gandhian, Pala Narayan Nair, who envisioned a unified Kerala in his 1948 poem Keralam Valarunnu is distressed by the increase in suicide rates in Kerala. He is also concerned by the rise of sectarianism and extremism in the state. Lack of direction among the youth and wasteful expenditure by households are the reasons cited by the poet for the social evils. Diversion of agricultural land for other purposes will lead to the destruction of the Malayalee identity, says the poet. His spirituality is "above the limits set by religions", reports Deepika.

Pala, 97, is leading a retired life at Puthenveettu Madom, TV Puram near Vaikom from 1978. He has won many literary honours in Malayalam.

President Narayanan's First Death Anniversary

President KR Narayanan's first death anniversary is to be observed in his birth place, Uzhavoor today. Promises to build a Super-specialty hospital, an agricultural research centre and a film institute in his memory have not been actioned upon, reports Mangalam.

Karimkunnam Grows Beyond the Borders...

Today's Deepika has an interesting report on Idukki District's Karimkunnam village, just on the border of Meenachil Taluk.

According to data collected in 2004, there are about 364 families from Karimkunnam settled in the USA, 101 families in the UK, 273 families in the Middle East and around 45 families in Italy in addition to those settled in other European countries. Every year the rate of people going overseas is increasing by 10%.

Many of them seem to be working as nurses and 80% of those passing out of the local higher secondary schools are opting for nursing courses.

Karimkunnam leads other panchayats in Idukki in earning foreign exhange. The report claims that there are more than 20 persons with a fixed deposit of more than Rs 1 crore in the local bank. There are also many houses built with a cost ranging from Rs 25 lakhs to Rs 1 crore.

The foreign remittances have been fuelling a real estate boom in the area.

When Oommen Chandy was hospitalised in Davos, it was a family from Karimkunnam which treated him, the report adds.