Articles by Arathi Manay Yajaman

My Bhumi, a Bangalore-based NGO, in conjunction with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is working to promote an eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi celebration this year. Supported by Friends of Lakes, RR Nagar Cares, One Bangalore Lakes and other groups and individuals, the focus is to reach out to children through their schools, and educate them about the connection between eco-friendly Ganesha idols and lakes in Bangalore.    Children are being encouraged to get their parents to buy unpainted clay idols. If the brown idols cost more than the colourful ones they are used to, then they can go in for…

My Bhumi, a Bangalore-based NGO, in conjunction with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is working to promote an eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi celebration this year. Supported by Friends of Lakes, RR Nagar Cares, One Bangalore Lakes and other groups and individuals, the focus is to reach out to children through their schools, and educate them about the connection between eco-friendly Ganesha idols and lakes in Bangalore.    Children are being encouraged to get their parents to buy unpainted clay idols. If the brown idols cost more than the colourful ones they are used to, then they can go in for…

Sri H Gopalakrishna is a long time resident of BEL Layout, Vidyaranyapura (earlier called Narasipura). This story, by him, in its original form, appeared on the Facebook page Vidyaranyapura - The Original. It is been edited and reproduced with his permission.   This is a continuation of Part 1 - Heaven, that can be read here. We used to get piped water through bore wells which had links to overhead tanks around the area. The responsibility of the water supply and collection of water charges was handled by BEL Residents Welfare Association (BELRWA). A while after the cleaning plant became operational,…

Sri H Gopalakrishna is a long time resident of BEL Layout, Vidyaranyapura (earlier called Narasipura). This story, by him, in its original form, appeared on the Facebook page Vidyaranyapura - The Original. It is been edited and reproduced with his permission.   This is a continuation of Part 1 - Heaven, that can be read here. We used to get piped water through bore wells which had links to overhead tanks around the area. The responsibility of the water supply and collection of water charges was handled by BEL Residents Welfare Association (BELRWA). A while after the cleaning plant became operational,…

Sri H Gopalakrishna is a long time resident of BEL Layout, Vidyaranyapura (earlier called Narasipura). This story, by him, in its original form, appeared on the Facebook page Vidyaranyapura - The Original. It is been edited and reproduced with his permission.   When I first visited the site where my house now stands, the scene of the lake stole my heart. It didn’t take much for me to decide to build my home right there. I moved to Vidyaranyapura in 1984. The present park between Fifth Block and Second Block of BEL Layout, Bangalore was originally a pond with water…

Sri H Gopalakrishna is a long time resident of BEL Layout, Vidyaranyapura (earlier called Narasipura). This story, by him, in its original form, appeared on the Facebook page Vidyaranyapura - The Original. It is been edited and reproduced with his permission.   When I first visited the site where my house now stands, the scene of the lake stole my heart. It didn’t take much for me to decide to build my home right there. I moved to Vidyaranyapura in 1984. The present park between Fifth Block and Second Block of BEL Layout, Bangalore was originally a pond with water…

Water divining is the detection of under ground water without actually digging into the ground. The "diviner" locates water with the help of rules that he/she has inherited or learnt and/ or tools like coconuts, rods, pendulums and the like. Some use the geophysical survey approach, which may sound more scientific than the ancient methods.   During my childhood, when we were going to dig a well in our house in Richmond Town, my father had called a diviner. I recall how fascinated we were when we saw how, with the help of a gold chain, he identified a couple…

Water divining is the detection of under ground water without actually digging into the ground. The "diviner" locates water with the help of rules that he/she has inherited or learnt and/ or tools like coconuts, rods, pendulums and the like. Some use the geophysical survey approach, which may sound more scientific than the ancient methods.   During my childhood, when we were going to dig a well in our house in Richmond Town, my father had called a diviner. I recall how fascinated we were when we saw how, with the help of a gold chain, he identified a couple…

Just planting tree saplings is not enough. Much care needs to be taken to ensure that the saplings get enough sunshine, water and other nutrients - to give them a fair chance to grow into mature trees.   The residents around Narisipura Lake 2, Vidyaranyapura have been consciously attending to the trees that were planted some weeks ago. This Sunday, 10th August 2014, several of them from the Friends of Lakes group got together at the lake, along with experts who eagerly gave advice and lent support as required.  While one group was busy tending to the plants and fixing drip…

Just planting tree saplings is not enough. Much care needs to be taken to ensure that the saplings get enough sunshine, water and other nutrients - to give them a fair chance to grow into mature trees.   The residents around Narisipura Lake 2, Vidyaranyapura have been consciously attending to the trees that were planted some weeks ago. This Sunday, 10th August 2014, several of them from the Friends of Lakes group got together at the lake, along with experts who eagerly gave advice and lent support as required.  While one group was busy tending to the plants and fixing drip…