Saturday, December 21, 2024
World Saree Day
World Saree Day, observed annually on December 21, is a global tribute to the timeless elegance, enduring charm and cultural significance of the saree. On this day, people around the world come together to honour this iconic garment, which has draped women in grace for centuries. The occasion celebrates the saree as a symbol of heritage, femininity and diversity.
From its intricate weaves to its colours, the saree is a masterpiece of textile craftsmanship. Its origins date back to ancient India, where it evolved from simple drapes into intricate works of art, adorned with embroidery, beads, sequins and woven motifs.
World Saree Day: History
Founded by social activists Sindhura Kaviti and Nistula Hebbar in 2020, World Saree Day was established as a platform to celebrate the intricate craftsmanship and rich heritage of sarees. The movement was initiated by Kaviti, who spearheaded the campaign to designate December 21 as an official day for global recognition.
The initiative quickly garnered attention on social media and within the fashion community, receiving support from prominent figures and organisations worldwide.
World Saree Day: Significance
World Saree Day is a tribute to the timeless elegance of the saree and its enduring charm. The day holds significance on multiple levels, from celebrating cultural preservation to promoting inclusivity and empowerment.
1. Celebrating cultural heritage: The saree is a symbol of India’s rich
cultural heritage, embodying tradition, grace and beauty. World Saree Day
provides an opportunity to honour and celebrate this cherished cultural legacy.
2. Honouring weavers: The day also acknowledges the artisans
whose artistry and skilled craftsmanship bring these beautiful garments to
life. These dedicated weavers and their craftsmanship are the backbone of the
saree tradition.
3. Promoting Indian handlooms: A key aim of World Saree Day is to
promote and preserve the art of handloom weaving, an integral part of India’s
textile industry. The day raises awareness about handloom industries, ensuring
that their legacy continues to inspire future generations.
4. Empowering women: The saree is more than just a garment,
it is a symbol of empowerment, making women feel confident, graceful and
beautiful.
5. Cultural connection: From the luxurious Kanchipuram silks
to the colourful Bandhani prints, World Saree Day seeks to give global
recognition to the saree and its diverse styles. The day encourages people
worldwide to connect with India’s rich culture and embrace traditional attire.
World Meditation Day
On 21st
December 2024, the world celebrates the first-ever World Meditation Day,
marking a significant moment in the global acknowledgement of the
transformative power of meditation. This annual celebration has been
established following a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) on 29th November 2024. The day is set to emphasize the
profound mental, physical, and social benefits of meditation, while fostering
peace and unity worldwide.
Friday, December 20, 2024
Gadge Baba's Death Anniversary
Maharaja Chhatrasal's birth anniversary
Maharaja Chhatrasal, passed away on 20 December 1731, was a medieval Indian warrior from the Bundela clan, who fought against the Mughal Empire, and established his own kingdom in Bundelkhand. becoming the founder of Panna State.
Japan Bombarded Calcutta in 1942
On 20th December 1942, a Japanese bomber of the IJAAF
(Imperial Japanese Army Air Force) bombarded Calcutta city and with this, the
country felt the heat of the Second World War in its own land.
On that day the Japanese fighter planes attempted to
bring destruction to Kolkata by destroying the Howrah Bridge and seaport
located in the city.
The attack damaged the infrastructure and surrounded the
whole city with sadness and all this happen in between the catastrophic World
War II which had led to the destruction of numerous cities worldwide.
The eastern Indian state of Calcutta which is at present
Kolkata at that time was a very integral centre for the execution of military
operations because of its closeness in getting connected with Burma and China.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Goa Liberation Day
Goa Liberation Day, observed annually on December 19, marks a pivotal moment in India’s history when the nation freed Goa from 451 years of Portuguese colonial rule.
On December 19, 1961, India launched “Operation Vijay” to reclaim Goa, Daman, and Diu from Portuguese control. The operation, a mix of military, naval, and air campaigns, lasted 36 hours and ended with Portugal surrendering its hold on these territories. The success of this mission not only unified Goa with the Indian Union but also ended centuries of European colonial rule in India.
Prior to liberation, Goa remained under Portuguese rule even after India gained independence in 1947. Diplomatic negotiations failed to yield results, leaving military intervention as the only option. The operation’s victory was hailed as a significant step in strengthening India's sovereignty.
This day
celebrates not just the end of colonial dominance but also the unique cultural
identity of Goa. The liberation opened doors for Goa’s transformation into a
thriving hub of tourism, heritage, and multicultural harmony. It highlights the
sacrifices of freedom fighters and the importance of preserving the region’s
traditions while embracing progress.
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
International Migrants Day
International Migrants Day annually marked on 18 December is a global observance dedicated to promoting a more inclusive and equitable world for all and advocating for equal and fair migration policies.
It also serves as a platform for raising awareness about the issues faced by migrants, including their rights, integration challenges, and contributions to host communities.
International Migrants Day: History and Significance
International Migrants Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000, in response to the growing number of migrants across the world, in addition to, marking the establishment of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, adopted by the United Nations in 1990, that came into force in 2003.
This convention aimed to enhance the protection of migrant workers and their families, ensuring that their rights are upheld regardless of their status or location.
By focusing on this,
International Migration Day aims to foster a more compassionate and equitable
world where the contributions of migrants are acknowledged and their challenges
addressed.
Joseph John Thompson's Birth Anniversary
Joseph Stalin's Birth Anniversary
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
British police officer James Saunders assassinated
On 17 December 1928, Indian
revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru
assassinate British police officer James Saunders in Lahore, Punjab, to avenge
the death of Lala Lajpat Rai at the hands of the police. The three were
executed in 1931.
First Airplane Flight
The Wright Flyer also
known as the Kitty Hawk, made the first sustained flight by a manned
heavier-than-air powered and controlled aircraft—an airplane—on 17 December
1903. Invented and flown by Orville and Wilbur Wright, it marked
the beginning of the pioneer era of aviation.
Orville Wright and Wilbur
Wright are widely regarded as being the first to invent, build and fly the
first successful airplane. There had been many attempts to do so in the past,
but any flight achieved was generally short and uncontrolled. This was changed
by the Wright brothers when they took to the skies four times on their Wright
Flyer on 17 December 1903. The first of these flights, shown in picture, lasted
about 12 seconds, at a speed of 6.8 miles per hour (10.9 km/h) and an altitude
of 120 feet (37 m).
The difference with the Wright
brother's aircraft was that they managed to invent a system whereby the pilot
could actually control the aircraft during flight. This method, the three-axis
control system, remains the standard on all subsequent aircraft.
For three years until their
successful flight in 1903 they honed their skills with glider flights and by
building home-made wind tunnels that allowed them to collect more data than
other engineers. This enabled them to build better wings and propellers, leading
to their successful flights.
Ludwig van Beethoven baptised in 1770
National Day of Bhutan
The National Day (Gyalyong
Duechen) of Bhutan is December 17. The date marks the coronation of Ugyen
Wangchuck as the first Druk Gyalpo of modern Bhutan, Celebrations are held
at Changlimithang Stadium,and include a public address by the Druk Gyalpo
and a procession including a statue of Ugyen Wangchuck to honour the first Druk
Gyalpo and the independent Bhutanese nation.
Monday, December 16, 2024
Welthy Fisher's Death Anniversary
Jane Austen's Birth Anniversary
Jane Austen, born on 16
December 1775, was an English novelist known primarily for her six major
novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at
the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of
women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic
security. Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of
the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary
realism. Her use of biting irony, along with her realism, humour, and social
commentary, have long earned her acclaim among critics, scholars, and popular
audiences alike.
Vijay Diwas
Vijay Diwas, is
commemorated every 16 December in India, to Indian military's victory over
Pakistan in Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 for the liberation of Bangladesh from
Pakistan. The end of the war also resulted in the unilateral and unconditional
surrender of the Pakistan Army and subsequent secession of East Pakistan into
Bangladesh. On this day in 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General
Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, surrendered to the allied
forces consists of Indian Army and Mukti Bahini, led by General Jagjit Singh
Arora, of India in the Ramna Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka after
their defeat in the war. Same day an event is commemorated in Bangladesh as Bijoy
Dibos.
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Nek Chand Saini's Birth Anniversary
Nek Chand Saini, born on 15 December 1924, was a self-taught Indian artist, known for building the Rock Garden of Chandigarh, an eighteen-acre sculpture garden in the city of Chandigarh.
Walt Disney's Death Anniversary
Gustave Eiffel's Birth Anniversary
Vallabhbhai Patel's Death Anniversary
International Tea Day
International Tea Day is observed
annually on December 15. It has been celebrated since 2005 in tea producing
countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi,
Malaysia, Uganda, India and Tanzania. International Tea Day aims to draw global
attention of governments and citizens to the impact of the global tea trade on
workers and growers, and has been linked to requests for price supports and
fair trade.
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Roald Amundsen, first to successfully reach the South Pole in 1911
Roald Amundsen, was a
Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He was a key figure of the period known as
the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.
Amundsen began his career as a polar explorer as first mate on Adrien de Gerlache's Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897–1899. From 1903 to 1906, he led the first expedition to successfully traverse the Northwest Passage on the sloop Gjøa. In 1909, Amundsen began planning for a South Pole expedition. He left Norway in June 1910 on the ship Fram and reached Antarctica in January 1911. His party established a camp at the Bay of Whales and a series of supply depots on the Barrier (now known as the Ross Ice Shelf) before setting out for the pole in October. The party of five, led by Amundsen, became the first to successfully reach the South Pole on 14 December 1911.
Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon's Birth Anniversary
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC, who passed away on 14 December 1971, was an officer of the Indian Air Force. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration during war time, in recognition of his lone defence of Srinagar Air Base against a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) air raid during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He is the only member of the Indian Air Force to be honoured with the PVC.
Nostredame's Birth Anniversary (uncertain)
Raj Kapoor's Birth Anniversary
Raj Kapoor, born on 14 December 1924, was an Indian film actor, producer and director of Indian cinema. Born at Kapoor Haveli in Peshawar to actor Prithviraj Kapoor– he was a member of the Kapoor family which has produced several Bollywood superstars.
Raj Kapoor is regarded as one
of the greatest and most influential actors and filmmakers in the history of
Hindi cinema. He received multiple accolades, including 3 National Film Awards
and 11 Filmfare Awards in India. The Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award is
named after Raj Kapoor. He was a two-time nominee for the Palme d'Or grand
prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his films Awaara (1951) and Boot
Polish (1954). His performance in Awaara was ranked as one of the top
ten greatest performances of all time by Time magazine. His films attracted
worldwide audiences, particularly in Asia and Europe. He was called "the
Clark Gable of the Indian film industry".
The Government of India
honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 for his contributions to the
arts. India's highest award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, was
bestowed on him in 1987 by the Government of India.
Friday, December 13, 2024
Druk Wangyel Tshechu
The Druk
Wangyel Tshechu occurs annually on December 13th, spanning just one day.
Held at the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang temple situated within the Dochula Pass,
approximately an hour's drive from the capital city, Thimphu, and along the
route to Punakha valley, the festival offers a unique cultural experience.
Against the backdrop of the majestic snow-covered Jigme Singye Wangchuck
mountain range, which stands at an elevation of 3,150 meters. At the heart of
the Druk Wangyel Tshechu lies a poignant tribute to the fourth King of Bhutan,
His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck and the Royal Bhutan Army, commemorating
their valor and success in a pivotal military operation. In December 2003, this
operation saw the successful expulsion of Indian militants hiding in the
southern regions of Bhutan. The festival serves as a poignant reminder of this
historic moment, honouring the bravery and dedication of those involved.
Historical and Cultural Significance of Druk Wangyel Tshechu
The Druk Wangyel Tshechu holds
significant historical and cultural importance for the people of Bhutan. It was
inaugurated in 2011 by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck
to commemorate the bravery and sacrifices of the Bhutanese armed forces. The
festival pays homage to the gallant soldiers who have served the nation with
valour and dedication, showcasing their contributions to the peace and security
of Bhutan.
Nicholas Roerich's Death Anniversary
Smita Patil's Death Anniversary
Smita Patil, who passed
away on 13 December 1986 was an Indian actress of film, television and theatre.
Regarded among the finest stage and film actresses of her times, Patil appeared
in over 80 Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam and Kannada films in a career
that spanned just over a decade. During her career, she received two National
Film Awards and a Filmfare Award. She was the recipient of the Padma Shri,
India's fourth-highest civilian honour in 1985.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
India's Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest World Chess Champion
India's Gukesh Dommaraju
became the youngest world chess champion, defeating defending champ Ding Liren
(of China), on Thursday, 12 December 2024. It was a dramatic affair in the
decisive 14th game in Singapore, as a blunder from Liren in the end game saw
Gukesh come out on top. Gukesh also became the 18th world champion at the age
of 18, four years younger than Garry Kasparov, who had been the youngest world
champion since 1985 when he reigned supreme against Anatoly Karpov.
Baba Raghav Das' Birth Anniversary
Zorawar Singh Kahluria's Death Anniversary
T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai's Death Anniversary
Ramanand Sagar's Death Anniversary
Maithili Sharan Gupt's Death Anniversary
Maithili Sharan Gupt, who
passed away on 12 December 1964, was one of the most important modern Hindi
poets. He is considered one among the pioneers of Khari Boli (plain
dialect) poetry and wrote in Khari Boli dialect, at a time when most
Hindi poets favoured the use of Braj Bhasha dialect. He was a recipient
of the third highest (then second highest) Indian civilian honour of Padma
Bhushan. For his book Bharat-Bharati (1912), widely quoted during
India's freedom struggle, he was given the title of Rashtra Kavi by
Mahatma Gandhi.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Mario Miranda's Death Anniversary
Mário João Carlos do
Rosário de Brito Miranda, popularly known as Mario Miranda or Mario
de Miranda, who passed away on 11 December 2011, aged 85, was an
Indian cartoonist and painter based in Loutolim, Goa, India. He had been a
regular with The Times of India and other newspapers in Mumbai, including The
Economic Times, though he got his popularity with his works published in the Illustrated
Weekly of India. He was awarded India's second highest civilian award,
the Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) in 2012.
Viswanathan “Vishy” Anand's Birthday
Viswanathan “Vishy” Anand,
born on 11 December 1969, in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India, is an
Indian chess grandmaster, a former five-time World Chess Champion and a record
two-time Chess World Cup Champion. He became the first grandmaster from India
in 1988, and he has the eighth-highest peak FIDE rating of all time. In 2022,
he was elected the deputy president of FIDE. Anand became known for quick tactical
calculations, winning numerous “speed chess” titles and earning the nickname
“the Lightning Kid.”
M.S. Subbulakshmi's Death Anniversary
Kavi Pradeep's Death Anniversary
Robert Koch's Birth Anniversary
Ravi Shankar's Death Anniversary
Ravi Shankar, who passed away on 11 December 2012, whose name is often preceded by the title Pandit (Master) and "Sitar maestro", was an Indian musician and a composer of Hindustani classical music. He was the best-known proponent of the sitar in the second half of the 20th century and influenced many other musicians throughout the world. Shankar was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1999.
UNICEF created in 1946
Created on 11 December 1946, UNICEF
originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency
Fund now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of
the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid
to children worldwide. The agency is among the most widespread and recognizable
social welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and
territories. UNICEF's activities include providing immunizations and disease prevention,
administering treatment for children and mothers with HIV, enhancing childhood
and maternal nutrition, improving sanitation, promoting education, and
providing emergency relief in response to disasters.
International Mountain Day
To increase awareness of the importance of mountains in preserving the natural balance of the world and the welfare of people, International Mountain Day is celebrated on December 11 every year.
This day, which was instituted by the UN in 2003, emphasizes the need for protecting mountain ecosystems and sustaining the means of subsistence for mountain populations.
What is the importance of International Mountain Day 2024?
In order to preserve these breathtaking landscapes and guarantee that they continue to offer enormous advantages to present and future generations, International Mountain Day also promotes international collaboration and local action.
The day is a call to action to save mountains from urgent dangers like
deforestation, mining, climate change, and unsustainable tourism. It also
emphasizes how significant mountains are to many people around the world on a
cultural and spiritual level. Mountains are intricately woven with human
heritage, acting as both centres of tradition and sources of livelihood.
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Portuguese conquest of Goa in 1510
Portuguese naval forces under the
command of Afonso de Albuquerque seized Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate,
resulting in 451 years of Portuguese rule. Albuquerque attacked Goa at the
invitation of a local exiled leader Thimayya. Albuquerque was then able to
capture Goa in less than a day, with Bijapur forces surrendered on 10 December
1510.
Rabindra Tagore first non-European to win Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913
On 10 December 1913, Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore
became the first non-European to be presented with the Nobel Prize for
Literature for "Gitanjali"
Gitanjali, is a collection of poems by the Bengali
poet Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore received the Nobel Prize for Literature,
largely for the English translation, Song Offering. It is part of the UNESCO
Collection of Representative Works. Its central theme is devotion and motto is
'I am here to sing thee songs.’
Ashok Kumar's Death Anniversary
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari's Birth Anniversary
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