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The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Palaniswami criticises DMK government for ‘lack of industrial development'
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami alleged on Sunday that Tamil Nadu was lagging in industrial development. In a statement, he criticised the DMK government for the State's borrowings in the past four years. Referring to Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan's recent statement that Tamil Nadu's industrial development was not so aggressive as that of the other Southern States, the former Chief Minister said it summed up the status of industrial development in Tamil Nadu. Listing the AIADMK government's contributions to industrial development, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Palaniswami said it was because of those initiatives that the State had grown so far. Citing figures from a report of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for 2024-25, Mr. Palaniswami said that while Maharashtra and Karnataka took the first two positions in foreign direct investment, Tamil Nadu was placed fifth. The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly also pointed to reports that the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister had not only visited Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts and invited textile industrialists to invest in his State but had also opened office in these districts to help them out. Though steps were taken during AIADMK rule for facilitating the establishment of semiconductor industries in the State, these units went over to Gujarat and Assam because of the DMK government's 'lackadaisical attitude'.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Devotees from far and near throng Meenakshi temple to witness celestial wedding
Thousands of devotees from far and near thronged Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai on Thursday to witness the grand 'Thirukalyanam' (celestial wedding) of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar on the 10th day of the annual Chithirai festival. The celestial wedding, the highlight of the festival, took place at the flower-bedecked Thirukalyana Mandapam between 8.30 a.m. and 8.59 a.m.. The 'Thirumangalyam' was placed on Goddess Meenakshi at 8.55 a.m. amid chanting of hymns. Lord Sundareswarar, Goddess Piriyavidai and Goddess Meenakshi were brought to the decorated dais following a procession along the Chithirai streets amid chants from the devotees. The 'wedding guests', Lord Subramaniaswamy, the presiding deity of Subramaniaswamy Temple at Tirupparankundram, His consort Goddess Deivanai and Lord Pavalakkanivai Perumal, arrived at the venue. The deities were dressed up in silk attires and decked up in gold. U. Shunmuga Sundara Bhattar and V. Karthikeya Bhattar performed the holy rituals and exchanged the garlands on behalf of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. As the 'Thirumangalyam' was placed on Goddess Meenakshi, women devotees replaced their 'Thali' with a new one as per custom. It is believed that the ritual strengthens their marital bond. Rose water and flowers were sprinkled on the deities followed by the 'maha deeparadhana'. Later, the deities were taken to the old 'Thirukkalyana Mandapam' on the temple premises for the devotees to offer their prayers. Outside the temple on the four Chithirai streets, the devotees gathered in large numbers and watched the grand event telecast on huge LED screens. The devotees started pouring into the venue as early as 5 a.m. and stayed till the end of the event. The devotees paid 'moi' outside the temple and were given a receipt and a gift bag containing a mangalsutra, vermilion powder and pictures of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. Following the celestial wedding, the devotees headed to Sethupathi Higher Secondary School for the Thirukalyana Virundhu (marriage feast). Ministers for Commercial Taxes and Registration P. Moorthy, Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Chairperson of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Board of Trustees Rukmini Palanivel Rajan, Madurai Collector M.S. Sangeetha, Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan, Commissioner of Police J. Loganathan, MLAs, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials and others were present at the event.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
‘Pattabhishekam' for Goddess Meenakshi performed
Hundreds of devotees on Tuesday witnessed the 'Pattabhishekam' or coronation ceremony of Goddess Meenakshi performed at the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai on the eighth day of the annual Chithirai festival. The ceremony marks the transfer of power to rule Madurai from Lord Sundareswarar to Goddess Meenakshi. Her rule will last from the Tamil month of Chithirai to Avani. The ceremony began with customary rituals, followed by 'abhishekam' and 'deeparadhana' to the diamond-studded 'Rayar' crown. The chairperson of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Board of Trustees Rukmini Palanivel Rajan received the 'parivattam' from the temple Bhattars. The respect was originally accorded to King Thirumalai Nayak. After receiving the golden sceptre from the temple priest, she took it around the 'praharam' of the Swami Sannithi and then placed it next to Goddess Meenakshi. It is believed that the crown that adorned the Goddess was donated by Appaji Rayar, a Minister in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, and passed on to the presiding deity of the temple during King Thirumalai Nayak rule. The deities mounted on a silver palanquin were taken out on a procession. Devotees gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the deities. Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Collector M.S. Sangeetha, Mayor Indrani Ponvasanth and Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials and others were present at the event.
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
State plans to set up govt-run cloud exchange hub to position Tamil Nadu at forefront of AI
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is planning to establish a government-run cloud exchange hub, aiming to position the state at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation. The initiative, part of broader efforts to expand Chennai's data centre ecosystem, is expected to support research, analytics, and technological advancements. Speaking at the 7th ASSOCHAM Conclave on 'Smart Datacenters & Cloud Infrastructure', Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, the state's Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, said that if Chennai captures a significant share of India's growing data infrastructure market, it could provide a 'strong foundation for the AI industry'. Chennai's data centre capacity is projected to increase from 202.43 MW in 2025 to 551.15 MW by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 22.18%, according to PwC. The city's strategic coastal location, infrastructure, and government policies are driving investment. The Tamil Nadu Data Centre Policy 2021 has played a key role, offering tax breaks, land subsidies, and power tariff concessions to attract developers. These measures, Rajan said, are laying the groundwork for both digital infrastructure and broader economic transformation. PwC's report calls for further policy enhancements, including incentives for sustainable and energy-efficient data centres, expanded renewable energy support, and clear public-private partnership (PPP) guidelines. It also recommends streamlined regulatory processes and training programmes to develop a skilled workforce for the sector. With the adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud strategies rising across enterprises, demand for scalable data infrastructure is growing. The spread of AI and big data analytics is also driving increased investment in high-capacity, energy-efficient facilities, the PwC report said. Beyond Chennai, other cities such as Coimbatore and Madurai are also poised to benefit. The PwC report said Coimbatore's strong industrial base and educational ecosystem alongside Madurai's growing IT workforce make them attractive locations for data infrastructure growth. With supportive policies, a skilled workforce, and accelerating investment, TN is positioned to become a national leader in digital infrastructure, paving the way for AI-led innovation.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Founder's Day celebrated at The Lawrence School
The Lawrence School, Lovedale, held its 167th Founder's Day celebrations from April 30 to May 2, featuring a series of events attended by students, parents, alumni, and dignitaries. The three-day programme included the Parent-Teacher Meeting, a school play, equestrian show, art and craft exhibitions, and the 'Kaleidoscope' entertainment evening. The concluding day featured the ceremonial 'Trooping of the Colour' parade and the 'Beating Retreat'. Tamil Nadu Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, an alumnus of the school, was the chief guest. The event also brought together Old Lawrencians, marking their 25th and 50th-year reunions.
