Report & Pics by: Fr Adolf Washington -Sunday 13th September 2009

Bangalore :  Minorities Minister Dr. Mumtaz Ali called on archbishop Bernard Moras at his residence at 7.30pm saturday. During the 45 minute meeting, the Minister reassured the archbishop that he , in his capacity as Minorites minister will press for an urgent and speedy inquiry into the hebbaguddi incident.

“The Chief minister is very serious about bringing the culprits to book and has instructed top police officers to ensure that no such attack on the Christian community should recur”.the Minister said. DGP Ajai Singh caleld on archbishop at 11.30 am to reassure the Archbishop on the police department’’s resolve to prevent such incidents.

The Archbishop asked “How can the Government instill confidence in the Christian community if inquries take so long? We have no results whatsoever still, from the inquiries into the church attacks last year”. “We have been very resilient, calm and composed in the face of so much injustice” the archbishop said.

“Christians are most tolerant” the Minister said assuring the Arcbishop “I will exert pressure wherever possible to ensure speedy justice and prevention of such incidents of violence against the Christian community” .

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Report by: Hindu Sources, Pics by: Prajwal Ukkuda-Sunday 13th September 2009

Mangalore :  The Head Post Office at Pandeshwar here is wearing a new look under the “Project Arrow”. It makes many promises to people such as: Open an account in seven minutes; Deposit your money in two minutes; and get a savings bank certificate in seven minutes.
The renovated post office was inaugurated on Saturday. A charter displayed at the Head Post Office lists out a variety services and claims to make them available to the customers within the time mentioned against each of those services.

The new “look and feel” office gives its customers the feel of a modern corporate banking branch under a new logo that reads: “Flying wings”. This logo has been written in bold letters and stuck prominently on the panels of a row of new-look counters.

Postmaster General of South Karnataka Region Vasumitra, who dedicated the office to the public, said even the postal staff could feel better in the renovated workplace and this should result in increased revenue for India Post.

Besides the counter services, steps had been taken to raise the efficiency levels in handling account transfer, money order disbursement, and delivery of the mail. Post offices would be provided with adequate funds to ensure prompt delivery of money orders. A system to monitor the quality of all services on a day-to-day basis was in place, he said.

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Report by: PTI Sources-Sunday 13th September 2009

Delhi :  Over 150 Jet Airways flights today remained cancelled even as the airlines made all efforts to restore normalcy after its pilots called off their five-day long stir and decided to get back to work following an agreement between them and the airlines management.

About 139 domestic and 13 international flights, including 27 from the national capital, were cancelled this morning, as per the list of cancelled flights posted on the airlines” website.

The airlines said that normalcy is likely to return from this afternoon after the pilots resume their duties.

Over 400 pilots, who reported “sick” for the last five days, decided to resume their duties after a nine-hour-long meeting with the airlines management in Mumbai last night.
Nearly 100 of the 400 agitating pilots of Jet Airways reported for duty here today as the airlines said that its flight operations will return to normalcy soon.

“We are operating 172 domestic and 72 international flights. So far, 98 pilots have already reported fit. The operation is expected to return to normal soon,” a Jet Airways spokesperson said.

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Report & Pics by: Michael Rodrigues, Udupi-Sunday 13th September 2009

Udupi :  Hundreds of people witnessed the colourful Sri Krishna Leelotsava, also known as “Vittala Pindi”, here on Saturday. The Sri Krishna Match/Temple, Car Street, Rajangana, and Gita Mandira were all centres of attractions.

The festival began on a colourful note with the “Sahasra Krishna Darshana”, a cultural programme held at the Gita Mandira in the morning. A large number of children, dressed in the costumes to resemble Krishna, participated in this programme with enthusiasm.

The “Yashoda and Muddu Krishna” competition was held at the Madhwa Mantapa. “Lagori” and “soppu” competitons had been organised near the Gita Mandira. Although “Huli vesha” is a common feature during Vittala Pindi, this year’s event was made to look special by a women’s team performing it.

For the adventurous people, there was the challenging competition of climbing the oil-soaked areca pole, erected near the Kanaka Gopura, and bringing down a bag of delicacies tied at its tip. Many persons tried to do it but could not. Finally, however, K.R. Ravi from Mudigere in Chikmagalur, succeeded in bringing the bag down.

The Vittala Pindi procession started at 3.30 p.m. from the temple’s entrance. The “Utsava murthy” of the sitting deity, Lord Krishna, was taken in a procession on Car Street. The “Mosaru Kudike” was the main attraction of the Vittala Pindi.

It consisted of earthen pots, filled with milk products, hung from the specially-constructed wooden towers or “gopuras” at different points on Car Street.

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Report by: Arun Raj, Mangalore-Saturday 12th September 2009

Mangalore :  The newly elected Executive committee of Mandd sobhann has Re-elected Louis J. Pinto as president of Mandd Sobhann for the year 2009-10.

Other office bearers are :
Vice President: Matilda Pinto
Secretary: Rony Crasta
Joint Secretary: Naveen Lobo
Treasurer: Ronald Gomes
Coordinator: Stany Alvares
Public Relation officer: Arun Raj
Gurkaar : Eric Ozario
Executive committee members: Lawrence Pinto, Narayan Kharvi, Kingsley Nazareth, Kishore Fernandes, Alfred Benis. Ronald Castelino, Ronald Mendonca and Fr. Ramesh Francis Naik.

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