LED Lighting Show Of The Lotus Parnasala
The LED lighting show of the Lotus Parnasala, a music-synchronised light-show, will be another high point of the fest. The Lotus Parnasala had recently got a 'luminous' facelift in the form of an imported LED lighting system containing more than 15,000 LEDs. Hundreds gather before the Parnasala every evening to watch the play of lights on the pristine white marble of the giant lotus-shaped structure.
Samskarikothsavam
'Samskarikothsavam' is the culturalfestival organized by the various cultural organisations under the Ashram's Arts and Culture Department. 'Santhwanasparsham' is a one-of-a-kind multi- disciplinary counselling centre organised by VishwaSamskarikaNavothdhanaKendram, the ashram's chief cultural division. A panel comprising of renunciates, social workers and professionals from corresponding disciplinesgives counselling for a host of problems including legal disputes, emotional problems, problems of children, marriage disputes and other social problems.The uniqueness of the counselling centre lies in the fact thatspiritual and moral aspects of each problem will be taken into account to find an amicable solution.
Kalatheertham
'Kalatheertham' is a pavilion for hand-crafted decorative items and curios organised by Mathrumandalam, the women's organisation of the ashram. It brings together handicraft pavilions of many self-help groups and NGO's selling various items crafted out of a variety of natural materials including coir, wood, bamboo and animal horn.
A 3D mini-Theatre
A 3D mini-theatrebuilt in the shape of a ship will be another high point of the exhibition. The '3D Ship of Wonders' , which is being organised by Santhimahima, the young men's division of Arts and Culture Department of the Ashram,features a 3D curio shop, exhibition of 3D gadgets and a large screen 3d projection system screening breath-taking 3d visuals. Visitors can also walk up to the decks of the ship for a stunning view of the adjacent artificial lake.
Kalanjali
Cultural programmes featuring performancesby eminent artists from several states of India arebeing staged at the venue of 'Kalanjali 2012'. 'Durba' dance, the traditional dance form of Gujarat is the chief attraction.
Book Festival
Celebrated writer and Member of ParliamentShashiTharoor inaugurated the 'KarunaSindhu National Book Festival', which has a sizeable collection of spiritual books. More than 40 publishing houses are taking part in the Book Festival which displays nearly 50,000 titles in Hindi, English, Malayalam and Tamil. Interactive sessions with authors, debates and quiz contests are among the events planned during the course of the event.
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Education Expo
The educational exhibitionfeatures science and medical exhibitions, interactive sessions with scientists, soft-skill training, a career guidance counselling by famous career guru B.S. Warrier, an environment seminar and various cultural programmes.
Agriculture Fair
The Agriculture Fair is one of the most sought-after pavilions of the fest. It has on sale, seeds and saplings of vegetables, fruits, tuber crops, flowering plants and medicinal plants from the Ashram's Agriculture Department. Rare breeds of cattle from the ashram's dairy farm have also been displayed. Various programmes like seminars and classes on farming techniques, interactive sessions for farmers, free soil testing, Santhigiri Karshakasree Awards and information kiosks on agriculture loans and bank saving schemes are being organised at the mela.
.Health Fair
The Health Fair isconceived as a dedicated pavilion catering to possiblyevery health-related need of a family. At the Health Fair pavilion, there will be medicare kiosks, stalls representing every system of medicine, seminars and awareness classes on a variety of medical issues, special camps for uncommon ailments, health-related quiz competition and counselling centres - all under a single roof. The Health Fair is an initiative by Santhigiri Healthcare and Research Organisation. SHRO, which co-ordinates the diverse activities of all healthcare and research divisions of Santhigiri Ashram, is a pioneering institution in Kerala's traditional healthcare sector.
Food Fest
Food, no doubt, is one of the most basic of human needs and no festival is complete without the accompaniment of great, savoury food and drink. The Chettinad Special food stall dishes out mouth-watering delicacies of Chettinad cuisine. The Chettinad Special food stall at the food fest features several mouth-watering delights. The snacks and pickle stall set up by Gurumahima, the young girls division of the Santhigiri Arts and Culture Department, abounds in specialities like 'Yam & Dates Pickle' and 'Dates Laddu'. The Pathayamnaturopathic food stall serves natural and healthy food items like Vegetable Puttu, Coriander Yoghurt and non-fermented Dosa and Appam.
Coir Fest
Tribes India, a central government initiative for marketing tribal art and craft, has opened an exclusive tribal artefact pavilion the fest. The pavilion opens a window into the mystical world of authentic Indian tribal art. Handcrafted materials in various categories like textiles, embroidery, metal crafts, tribal jewellery, bamboo products,stone pottery, paintings and other gift items are available at the pavilion.
A wide range of exclusive coir products are on display at Coir Utsav, a Coir Board pavilion.Coir handicraft items, mattresses, umbrellas, coir pith manure, coir pith lawns and coir pith vegetable beds to grow vegetable on the terrace — just about everything made of coir is up for grabs at the exhibition.
Visitors to the fair will get an opportunity to watch live demonstrations of the mobile fibre extraction machine, mechanised coir looms which make designer coir mats and the mechanised coir spinning wheel.They can also interact with the coir board trained women from Alapuzha, who will demonstrate the art of spinning coir strands from fibre.
