World Post Day 2024

 

World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services.

In 2015 countries all over the world committed themselves to working together towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to end extreme poverty and hunger, fight inequality and injustice, and take action to reverse climate change - to name just some of these 17 agreed new Goals. Playing its part in this global effort, the Post today has a more relevant role than ever by providing infrastructure for development.

2024 theme: 150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nation          

In 2024, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) celebrates its 150th anniversary. 

With the theme “150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nations,” this year’s World Post Day recognizes the UPU’s longstanding achievements and reinforces its commitment to serve all peoples for the decades and centuries to come.

Background

The purpose of World Post Day is to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries. The celebration encourages member countries to undertake programme activities aimed at generating a broader awareness of their Post’s role and activities among the public and media on a national scale.

Every year, more than 150 countries celebrate World Post Day in a variety of ways. In certain countries, World Post Day is observed as a working holiday. Many Posts use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services. Some Posts also use World Post Day to reward their employees for good service.

In many countries, philatelic exhibitions are organized, and new stamps and date cancellation marks are issued. Other activities include the display of World Post Day posters in post offices and other public places, open days at post offices, mail centres and postal museums, the holding of conferences, seminars and workshops, as well as cultural, sport and other recreational activities. Many postal administrations issue special souvenirs such as T-shirts and badges.

For countries participating in the UPU International Letter-Writing Competition, national winners are often honoured on 9 October.

 

 

Navratri 2024 Day 7, Maa Kalaratri

 

Maa Kalaratri is worshipped on the seventh day of Shardiya Navratri. She is one of the nine forms of Maa Durga and is considered the fiercest and the most ferocious form of Goddess Parvati. It is believed that when Maa Parvati removed her golden skin to kill demons, she came to be known as Maa Kalaratri.

The Goddess has a dark complexion and rides a donkey. She is depicted with four hands - her right hands are in Abhaya and Varada Mudra and her left hands carry a sword and an iron hook.

According to beliefs, when demons Shumbha and Nishumbha defeated the gods with the help of Chanda, Munda, and Raktabeej, Lord Indra and others prayed to Maa Parvati for her help. She created Goddess Chandi to kill them. While Goddess Chandi killed the other demons, she couldn't defeat Chanda, Munda and Raktabeej. It is believed that she created Maa Kalaratri from her forehead to end them.

Goddess Kalaratri killed Chanda and Munda. However, Raktabeej had a boon from Lord Brahma that allowed every drop of his blood falling on the ground to transform into his clone. Undeterred, Maa Kalaratri began drinking his blood and killed him.

Goddess Kalaratri governs the planet Shani. She is also known as Goddess Shubhankari. Her name is formed with two words - Kala means death, and Ratri stands for darkness. Thus, Kalaratri is the one who brings the 'death of darkness'. Devotees worship her because she can destroy all darkness and bring peace. She also eliminates the harmful effects of Shani on her devotees' lives and brings them happiness.