Ananthapuripex-2014 : Thiruvananthapuram District Level Philatelic Exhibition held on 13th & 14th November 2014 at Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram District Level Philatelic Exhibition 'Ananthapuripex-2014’ was organised by Thiruvananthapuram North Postal Division on 13th and 14th November 2014 at Bhagyamala Auditorium, Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Smt. K Chandrika, Mayor of Thiruvananthapuran Municipal Corporation. During the inaugural function, a Special Cover on 125 years of first Anchal Stamps was released by Smt. Sumathi Ravichandran, Postmaster General, Mails and Business Development, which was received by Mayor Smt. K Chandrika. The Special cover was brought out to mark the completion of 125 years of the release of Anchal Stamps. (Special Cover approval no. KL-13/2014)

The former Indian State of Travancore had an independent Postal system called Anchal Service. In 1861 (1036 Malayalam Calender Era) Ayilyam Tirunal Maharaja opened the Anchal System to the public. The first adhesive Anchal stamps of denominations 1 Chakram, 2 Chakrams and 4 Chakarams were introduced on 16.10.1888 during the reign of Sree Moolam Tirunal Maharaja. The special cover depicts photos of the Anchal stamps, with Chakram in Malayalam, Padmanabhaswami Temple, The Kings procession etc. in the background. The special cancellation depicts line drawing of the Randu Chakram stamp.

On 14th November 2014 a Special Cover on 150 years of Fort Mission Girls’ High School was released by Shri A Thomas Loudraj, Director of Postal Services (HQ). The cover was received by Smt. Helen Violet L R, Headmistress, Fort Mission Girls' School. (Special Cover approval no. KL/14/2014)

Fort Girls' Mission High School, Thiruvananthapuram was founded by Ms. Augusta Mary Blanford of Church of England Zenana Missionary Society on 3rd November 1864 with the blessings of Ayilyam Tirunal Rama Varma. The school was initially known as "Vadake Kottaram Pallikkoodam" and later changed as Zenana Mission School. On its elevation to the status of Girls' High School in 1951, its name was changed as Fort Girls' Mission High School.

India created history by becoming the first country in the world to reach the red planet's orbit in the first attempt and also became the first Asian country to have sent its space craft successfully into Mar's orbit. The Mars Orbiter Mission - Mangalyaan was launched on 5th November 2013 and after completing its ten month long journey, it was successfully put into Martian orbit on 24th September 2014.

The valedictory function witnessed the release of a Special Cover on Mangalyaan Indian Mars Orbiter Mission. The Special cover was released by Smt. Sumathi Ravichndran, Postmaster General, Mails and Business Development. The cover was received by Padmashree M. Chandradathan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, Thiruvanathapuram, who was responsible for the launch of the Indian Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan. (Special Cover approval No. KL/15/2014) The cover depicts the Mangalyaan launcher, the Mars and the Indian Flag. The Special Cancellation depicts the Mars Orbiter between Earth and Mars.

Awards and prizes were given to prize winners at the valedictory function. Various competitions were also conducted during the exhibition. The exhibition also gave the public a chance to feature on stamps through ‘My Stamp’ facility.

Courtesy : http://postalinspectors.blogspot.in/