The Birth of Indian Cinema

 

India has a rich and vibrant film industry, but it all started with the establishment of the first movie theatre in the country.

The Lumiere Brothers, who invented the Cinematograph in France, are credited with organizing the first public screening of moving pictures in India. It happened on July 7, 1896, at the Watson Hotel in Bombay (now Mumbai), where they showcased six short films and the ticket was priced at Re.1. The Times of India referred to this event as the “miracle of the century”. The event created a stir among the city's residents, and it marked the beginning of a new era in Indian entertainment. The Motion pictures were soon introduced to India, in Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras).

However, it wasn't until 1912 that the first permanent movie theatre was established in India. The Elphinstone Picture Palace, named after Lord Elphinstone, who was the Governor of Bombay from 1887-1890, opened its doors to the public on April 7, 1912. Located in the bustling area of Parel in Bombay, the theatre was owned by J.F. Madan, a film exhibitor and distributor.

The Elphinstone Picture Palace had a seating capacity of 700 and showed mostly English films. It was an instant success, and soon other theatres followed suit. By the 1930s, Bombay had become the hub of Indian cinema, with the industry producing nearly 200 films every year.

Today, the Elphinstone Picture Palace is no longer operational, but its legacy lives on. It is considered a landmark in the history of Indian cinema and is remembered as the birthplace of the country's film industry.

In conclusion, the establishment of the first movie theatre in India marked a significant moment in the country's cultural history. It laid the foundation for what would later become one of the largest film industries in the world. The Elphinstone Picture Palace will always be remembered as the birthplace of Indian cinema.

World Chocolate Day

World Chocolate Day is observed on 7 July, every year. This day is significant as it celebrates the rich, creamy, and bittersweet chocolate flavour. It is a day of indulgence and celebration, as well as a time for reflection on the health benefits of chocolate.

World Chocolate Day: History and Significance

The history of World Chocolate Day dates back to 2009 when the first International Chocolate Day was held. The day was established in order to mark the supposed anniversary of the day when the first chocolate bar opened in Europe in 1550. Since then, World Chocolate Day has been celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the world.

One of the most important aspects of World Chocolate Day is the celebration of chocolate as a source of health. Chocolate contains flavonols, which are antioxidants found in cocoa.

It also helps in maintaining a healthy weight, as it reduces the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Dark chocolate, which is rich in cocoa extract, is said to be especially beneficial for heart health.

World Chocolate Day is also a day to appreciate the different varieties of chocolate. There are many different types of chocolate bars, each with its own unique flavour profile.

The day is also an opportunity to try different chocolate recipes and to discover the many new and exciting varieties of chocolate that are available.

Whether you're a fan of dark chocolate or milk chocolate, there's no denying the universal appeal of chocolate. World Chocolate Day is a day to celebrate the joys of chocolate and to make new discoveries.

 

 

Solomon Islands Independence Day

The Solomon Islands are an archipelago of six large islands surrounded by 900 smaller ones in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu.

Independence Day is an official public holiday in the Solomon Islands on July 7th each year.

This holiday is the National Day of the country and marks independence from Britain on this day in 1978.

History of Independence Day

Lying to the east of Papua New Guinea, the first European to visit the islands in the archipelago was the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña in February 1568.

When Mendaña arrived, he thought the islands were the location of the fabled biblical city of Ophir. In Genesis, Ophir is said to be a place that was teeming with gold and contributed to the wealth of King Solomon, hence Mendaña called the islands, Islas Salomón ("Solomon Islands"). The claims of riches, unfortunately, proved to be fake news.

In June 1893, Captain Gibson R.N., of HMS Curacoa, declared the southern Solomon Islands a British protectorate in response to the German annexation of others. By 1900 Germany agreed to cede their interests to Britain and the Solomons came entirely under British rule.

The official name was changed from the British Solomon Islands Protectorate to the Solomon Islands in 1975, and self-government was achieved the following year.

Independence was granted on July 7th 1978, and Sir Peter Kenilorea appointed to be the country's first Prime Minister. Queen Elizabeth II remained the monarch with the Solomon Islands becoming a constitutional monarchy and a member of the Commonwealth.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Birthday

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, born on 7 July 1981, is an Indian professional cricketer who plays as a right-handed batter and wicket-keeper. Widely regarded as one of the most prolific wicket-keeper-batsmen and captains, he represented the Indian cricket team and was the captain of the side in limited-overs formats from 2007 to 2017 and in Test cricket from 2008 to 2014. Dhoni has captained the most international matches and is the most successful Indian captain. He has led India to victory in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, being the only captain to win three different limited overs ICC tournaments. He also led the teams that won the Asia Cup in 2010, 2016 and was a member of the title winning squad in 2018.

Born in Ranchi, Dhoni made his first-class debut for Bihar in 1999. He made his debut for the Indian cricket team on 23 December 2004 in an ODI against Bangladesh and played his first test a year later against Sri Lanka. In 2007, he became the captain of the ODI side before taking over in all formats by 2008. Dhoni retired from test cricket in 2014, but continued playing in limited overs cricket till 2019. He has scored 17,266 runs in international cricket including 10,000 plus runs at an average of more than 50 in ODIs.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dhoni plays for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), leading them to the final on ten occasions and winning it five times (2010, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2021and 2023). He has also led CSK to two Champion League T20 titles in 2010 and 2014. Dhoni is amongst the few batsmen to have scored more than five thousand runs in the IPL, as well as being the first wicket-keeper to do so.

In 2008, Dhoni was awarded India's highest sport honour Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award by Government of India. He received the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri in 2009 and third highest civilian award Padma Bhushan in 2018. Dhoni holds an honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Territorial Army which was presented to him by the Indian Army in 2011. He is one of the most popular cricketers in the world.

 

Ratha Yatra of Puri 2024

 

The Ratha Yatra of Puri, also rendered as the Ratha Jatra, lit. ‘Chariot festival’, which begins this year on July 7, is considered the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival celebrated annually, on the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh (June–July). The festival is held at the city of Puri, in the state of Odisha, India and associated with the deity Jagannath (a form of Vishnu or Krishna). During the festival, three deities (Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra) are drawn by a multitude of devotees in three massive, wooden chariots on bada danda (the grand avenue) to Gundicha Temple whereby they reside there for a week and then return to the Jagannath temple. This return trip is referred to as the Bahuda Yatra.

On the way, the chariot of Jagannatha, Nandighosa waits near the crematorium of Bhakta Salabega, a Muslim devotee, to pay him tribute.

On their way back from the Gundicha Temple, the three deities stop for a while near the Mausi Maa Temple (Aunt's abode) and have an offering of the Poda Pitha, which is a special type of pancake supposed to be the deity's favourite. After a stay of seven days, the deities return to their abode.