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[email protected] No. Sm1223/2069 (For Private Circulation Only) Falgun Krishna 4 Vik Samvat 2069. Yugabda 5114 Tel: 91-11- 23684445; Fax: 91-11-23517722 1 March 2013. 1. FESTIVALS: Elephant Festivals: In the 10- 3. EMPOWERING WOMEN CAN TACKLE day Thirunakkara Arattu festival from 15th to 24th GENDER DISPARITY: PRANAB – Rashtrapati March each year in Thirunakkara Mahadeva Pranab Mukherkjee said in New Delhi on 18 Temple, Kottayam, Kerala, the highlight is a February that gender disparity can be tackled only procession of decorated elephants, accompanied through economic empowerment of women and by drummers and other performers, carrying the improving their role in governance. Speaking at temple god to be bathed. In Arattupuzha Pooram the presentation of the Indira Gandhi Prize for festival in Arattupuzha temple in the Thrissur Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2011 to district of Kerala, one of the oldest temple Ela Ramesh Bhatt of Self Employed Women's festivals in Kerala, on March 25, 2013 a Association (SEWA), Mukherjee emphasised that particularly large elephant pageant features around empowerment of women is the key for gender 60 elephants bearing brightly colored silk parasols. equality. "If women are under-represented in our Legend has it that on the day of the festival, 101 economy, it is not only injudicious but also gods and goddesses from the neighboring villages detrimental to social progress," he said. visit Sree Ayyappan, the presiding deity of the 4. FIVE LAKH PEOPLE VISITED THE 5TH Arattupuzha Temple. In Jaipur, on the eve of Holi HINDU SPIRITUAL AND SERVICE FAIR: each year, March 26 this year, plenty of prized Fifth Hindu fair of the Hindu spiritual and Service elephants are groomed and decorated to Foundation (February 19-24) was inaugurated by perfection, and paraded around the city.