The sixth display hall -- the largest, and Kal Mandapam (stone hall) which will also couple up as an open-air theatre to be used for hosting events. Just 12 km southeast of Madurai, Keeladi is located in Sivaganga district which is home to the Chettinad region of the state, and hence government decided to build the museum in conventional style.

#Thread on the 8th phase of archaeological excavation in #Keeladi in #TamilNadu

Keeladi, a Sangam-era site, was first excavated in 2014. The 8th phase undertaken by the State Department of Archaeology began in February 2022

(1/n) One of the first to be unearthed is a rectangular-shaped dice measuring 4.5 cm made of ivory. The ASI and TNSDA had recovered cubical dice made of ivory and terracotta in the past.

This was the first time TNSDA stumbled upon a rectangular dice after it took over in 2017

#Thread : On the suburban train to #Chengalpattu , a group of students boarded the train at Tambaram. They were unruly. They deboarded the train at every stop and boarded again once the train began to move.

@aravindhanIPS @GMSRailway At Guduvanchery, I believe, one of the students could not board the train again. He was literally hanging, clutching onto the window pane. After much difficulty, the students and other train passengers pulled the guy to safety. The terrified student came and sat on a seat.

As a journalist, this is such a happy sight.

Two weeks ago, Ashwini, who belongs to the Narikurava community, was denied dignity after being disallowed to have food with others during annadhanam at a temple.

A YouTube channel aired her interview which went viral.

(1/n) A week later, HR & CE Minister @PKSekarbabu invited Ashwini to have lunch with her at the very temple where her dignity was questioned.

In fact, the woman was seated between the minister and the HR & CE Commissioner which sent a very strong message.

(2/n)

#TamilNadu Finance Minister P T R Palanivel Thiaga Rajan rises to present the first Budget of the new #DMK government headed by #MKStalin

This is the first time the state Assembly will witness presentation of e-budget

#TamilnaduBudget #PTR

@DeccanHerald Amidst uproar in the House by AIADMK members, Thiaga Rajan begins his speech by quoting a couplet from Thirukkural. He invokes social reformer E V R Periyar and #DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi.

#TamilnaduBudget #PTR

@DeccanHerald

#Thread #COVIDSecondWave

Marriage season in #TamilNadu has begun, and if people do not confine it to a very close family event, there are possibilities that weddings emerge as super spreaders. The situation could be alarming in rural areas. (1/n) Government has put a cap on the number of people for marriage, but that is not followed in many places. In villages, marriages are held at the homes of either the bride or the groom. They are normally closed spaces. And neither social distancing nor masking is followed. (2/n)

An unsolicited advice to families of those testing positive for #COVID19 .

Do not hesitate to take them to government hospitals in Chennai and elsewhere in #TamilNadu if doctors have advised immediate hospitalisation. (1/n)

#CovidIndia Priority is to save lives. Do not waste crucial time in looking for a bed at a private hospital. Yes, the government hospitals may not offer the luxury that their counterparts run by private sector possess. (2/n)

#COVID19 #CovidIndia

#Thread on #TamilNadu politics

As many talk of recreating #MGR magic in 2021, here is a look at how the late matinee idol made his mark in politics. He actually rose from the ranks in #DMK . One can argue it was a meteoric rise - yes it was within the party. #TamilNadu #AIADMK #Politics

#Thread As the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on a petition challenging the Madras High Court scrapping land acquisition for #ChennaiSalemGreenCorridor , a re-plug of the long story that I wrote after visiting several villages and talking to farmers

deccanherald.com/salem-chennai-… #ChennaiSalemGreenCorridor in a nutshell. The government's plans and the farmers' objections.

#Thread : For every political party or individual who wants to emerge as a "change agent" in #TamilNadu , the first thing to do is to acknowledge the role of the Dravidian parties in bringing social and developmental change in the state. One cannot keep saying no development has taken place in #TamilNadu when there is no much to see around you. In cities, towns, and villages. When you keep shouting from the roof-top that there is no development, people tend to compare and look around.

#Rajinikanth will not be the Chief Ministerial candidate, say people who are advising the star on his political entry. Who else will the superstar endorse? #KamalHaasan ? It may look like a wild guess, but such an endorsement would help the long-time friends. #Rajinikanth and #KamalHaasan cannot succeed on their own. They can make an impact if they come together, feel many people who are pushing for an alternative to #DMK and #AIADMK . They also understand that the two coming together is not that easy.

கந்த சஷ்டி கவசம் ஒலிக்காமல் ஒரு நாளும் எங்கள் வீட்டில் மாலையில் விளக்கு ஏற்ற மாட்டார்கள். முருகனை தமிழ் கடவுளாக மட்டும் பார்க்காமல், குலக்கடவுளாகவும் பார்க்கும் குடும்பம். ஒவ்வொரு கிருத்திகை அன்று, விரதம் இருந்து கோயிலிற்கு சென்று வந்த பிறகு வீட்டில் பூஜை செய்து வழிபடுவார்கள். ஆடி கிருத்திகை அன்று காவடி எடுத்து முருகனை வழிபடுவார்கள். எங்கள் ஊரில் முருகனை வேண்டி நடைபயணம் மேற்கொள்வார்கள். வேலும் மயிலும் முருகனுக்கு துணை என்று எல்லார்க்கும் தெரியும். தை பூசம் அன்று அலகு குத்தி பிராத்தனை நிறைவேற்றுவார்கள்.