São João is a vibrant Catholic festival celebrated
primarily in Goa, India, and Portuguese-speaking countries on June 24th.
Honouring St. John the Baptist, the Goan celebration coincided with the monsoon
and features men leaping into water bodies wearing floral crowns (kopels).
On May 31, 1859, Big Ben rang over the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, for the first time.
In October 1834, a fire destroyed much of the Palace of Westminster, the medieval royal palace used as the home of the British parliament. The design for the new palace included a tower to house a large clock. One requirement for the clock was that the first stroke of the hour bell should be correct to within one second per day. Construction of the clock began in September 1843. When completed in 1859, it was the world's largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock.
The Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster is commonly known as Big Ben. Although the name Big Ben only refers to the bell, it is commonly associated with the whole clock tower. In addition to the Great Bell, the belfry houses four quarter bells, which play on the quarter hours.
The original bell was cast in August 1856. Since the tower was not
finished, the bell was mounted in New Palace Yard. During testing, the bell
cracked beyond repair and a replacement had to be made. The new bell was recast
in April 1858 and first rang over the Houses of Parliament on May 31, 1859. In
September, this bell also cracked. The hammer was discovered to be more than
twice the maximum weight specified. A lighter hammer was installed, and the
bell was repaired, although the crack remained. The bell gave an eighth turn so
the new hammer struck an undamaged section. This is the bell we hear today.
Michael John Clarke, born on 2 April 1981, in Liverpool, New South
Wales, Australia, is an Australian former cricketer. He was captain of the
Australian cricket team in both Test and One Day International (ODI)
between 2011 and 2015, leading Australia to victory in the 2015 Cricket
World Cup. He also served as captain of the Twenty20 International (T20I)
team between 2007 and 2010. With his time representing Australia, Clarke won
multiple ICC titles with the team: the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the 2015
Cricket World Cup which he was the winning captain, and the 2006 ICC
Champions Trophy.
Nicknamed "Pup", Clarke was a right-handed middle-order batsman, an occasional left-arm
orthodox spin bowler and also a slip catcher. He represented New South
Wales at the domestic level.
Clarke retired from all forms of cricket after the
final Test of the 2015 Ashes series.
Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, born on 1 April 1889, in Nagpur, was an Indian physician and the founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He served as its first Sarsanghchalak (Supreme Leader) from its inception in 1925 until his death in 1940.
Key Facts
Johann Sebastian Bach, born on 31 March 1685, in Eisenach, Germany, was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential figures in Western classical music history.
Key Highlights of His Life
Land Day
marks the Palestinian people’s collective uprising against Israeli systematic
land theft and dispossession. On March 30, 1976, Israeli forces massacred six
Palestinian protestors during mass demonstration s against the Israeli
occupation’s theft of thousands of dunums of Palestinian land in the Galilee.
Since 1976, the struggle has only intensified. Today, the Israeli settler
colonial project and ethnic cleansing campaign continue to steal land, forcibly
displace communities, and intensify its structural oppression across all of
Palestine.
Jal Manekji Cooper, born on 29 March 1905, in Mumbai, was an Indian philatelist, and
an expert and authenticator of the postage stamps and postal history
of India. Cooper was also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and
the author of several philatelic handbooks. He was both a stamp dealer and
a collector and was associated with philatelists like C.D. Desai, N.
D. Cooper, and Robson Lowe.
Cooper is
occasionally but erroneously credited with having discovered the Inverted Head
4 Annas.
The 1891 reprints
show that this error was already known. E. A. Smythies said the error was first
discovered at a meeting of the Philatelic Society of London in 1874.
The Jal
Cooper Philatelic Society, in Varanasi, India, is named after him
and India Post issued a 10 rupees commemorative
stamp in 1997 depicting Cooper and Indian postmarks, on the occasion of
INDEPEX 97.
March
28 marks an exciting celebration in the world of entertainment—it’s Barnum
& Bailey Day! This day commemorates the iconic American circus known as
“The Greatest Show on Earth,” which combined the talents of P.T. Barnum, J.A.
Bailey, and the Ringling Brothers. It’s a day to remember the magic,
excitement, and wonder that the circus has brought to audiences around the
world.
Five
Fun Facts about Barnum & Bailey Day
·
The
Barnum & Bailey Circus was created when P.T. Barnum’s circus merged with
James Anthony Bailey’s in 1881.
·
Known
for its elaborate spectacles, the circus travelled across the country in
special trains.
·
The
phrase “The Greatest Show on Earth” was actually coined by P.T. Barnum,
showcasing his flair for the dramatic.
·
The
circus was famous for its vast menagerie of animals, breathtaking acrobatic
performances, and unique attractions.
·
Barnum
& Bailey Day celebrate not just the circus, but the imagination and
innovation that can turn dreams into reality.
The first electric tram in Asia
began operating in Kolkata (then Calcutta), India, in 1902. The
inaugural electric tram service ran from Esplanade to Kidderpore on March
27, 1902, marking a major milestone in Asian urban transport after horse-drawn
trams had operated in the city since 1873.
The Calcutta Tramways
Company (CTC) oversaw the transition from steam and horse-drawn trams to
electric power. While many cities in Asia previously had tram systems, Kolkata
remains the only city in India where they still run, albeit in a reduced
capacity
National Spinach Day is
celebrated annually on March 26th to promote the consumption of this
nutrient-dense leafy green, which is high in iron, vitamins A, C, and K, as
well as fiber. The day encourages incorporating fresh or cooked spinach into
diets, often highlighted by eating recipes like salads, pasta, or smoothies.
Musiri Subramania Iyer, who passed
away on 25 March 1975, aged 75, was a Carnatic vocalist whose stage
performing career spanned the 1920s to the 1940s. After retirement from
the stage, he remained an iconic figure in Carnatic music as a dedicated teacher
and leader in the Carnatic community. His bhava-laden renditions of
Carnatic songs have become the measuring stick for generations of Carnatic
vocalists. Musiri Subramania Iyer is considered one of the giants of Carnatic
music in the twentieth century.
Joseph Priestley, born on 24 March 1733, in Birstall,
United Kingdom, was an English chemist, natural philosopher, separatist
theologian, grammarian, multi-subject educator, and liberal political theorist
who published over 150 works. He has historically been credited with the
independent discovery of oxygen in 1774 by the thermal decomposition of
mercuric oxide, having isolated it. Although Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm
Scheele also has strong claims to the discovery, Priestley published his
findings first. Scheele discovered it by heating potassium nitrate, mercuric
oxide, and many other substances in about 1772.
Observed
annually on March 23, World Meteorological Day, commemorates
the establishment of the World Meteorological Day (WMO) in 1950. This day
recognises the vital contributions of meteorologists and underscores the
importance of global collaboration in weather, climate, and water management.
It also highlights WMO’s efforts in advancing weather forecasting and tackling climate
challenges worldwide.
World Meteorological Day: History
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) was founded in March 1950 and became a specialised agency of the United Nations in 1951. This marked a new era of global cooperation in meteorology, hydrology and related sciences.
The idea for the WMO began in the mid-1930s as the importance of weather forecasting and climate studies grew. However, progress was delayed due to World War II. After the war, efforts to establish the organisation gained momentum which led to its formation.
The WMO focuses on standardising meteorological practices, supporting research and addressing global weather challenges. Today, it has 193 members which includes 187 member states and 6 territories, each managing its meteorological services. The first World Meteorological Day was celebrated on March 23, 1961.
World Meteorological Day: Significance
World
Meteorological Day is an important day that draws attention to the challenges
our planet faces in terms of weather, climate and water resources. It helps
raise awareness about how these elements impact our daily lives and highlights
the progress made in meteorology and climate science.
Kushal
Konwar was a
“Satyagrahi”, born on 21 March 1905, in Chaodang
Chariali, Ghiladhari Mouza, Golaghat, Assam, India. During the last stages of the Quit India
Movement in 1942–1943, he was the only martyr in India’s war for Independence
to be hanged.
Every year on March 20, World
Storytelling Day celebrates the art of oral storytelling. It’s also a day
for people around the globe to listen and tell stories in as many languages as
possible.
Each year World Storytelling Day
has a theme around which the storytellers tell their stories. The storytellers
are free to choose their stories, but most of them try to connect to the
theme.
History of World Storytelling
Day: World Storytelling Day started out as a national day for storytelling
in Sweden around 1991. The day was called 'Alla berättares dag,' which
translates to All Storytellers Day.
In 1997, storytellers in
Australia coordinated a five-week long celebration of story. The day became
known as the International Day of Oral Narrators. Around this time, Mexico and
other Latin American countries were celebrating their own National Day of Storytellers.
In 2002, Scandinavians created their own storytelling web-network called
Ratatosk.
The new network helped the
national day for storytelling spread from Sweden to Norway, Denmark, Finland,
and Estonia. In 2003, the idea continued to spread to other countries including
Canada. The event became known as World Storytelling Day. Today, storytelling
events occur on every continent except Antarctica.
Damal
Krishnaswamy Pattammal, born on 19
March 1919, popularly known as D. K. Pattammal or DKP,
was an Indian Carnatic musician and a playback singer for film songs
in Tamil. Pattammal,
along with her contemporaries M.S. Subbulakshmi and M.L. Vasanthakumari,
are popularly referred to as the female trinity of Carnatic Music. This trio initiated the entry of women
into mainstream Carnatic Music. She has been appreciated all over the world by
Carnatic music lovers.
Sir Ludwig Guttmann CBE FRS who passed away on 18 March 1980, aged 80, in
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, was a German-British neurologist
who established the Stoke Mandeville Games, the sporting event for people with
disabilities (PWD) that evolved in England into the Paralympic Games. A Jewish
doctor who fled Nazi Germany just before the start of the Second World War,
Guttmann was a founding father of organized physical activities for people with
disabilities.
Allahabad
High Court, officially
known as High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, is the high court based in the
city of Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad, that had jurisdiction over the
Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It was established on 17 March 1866,
making it one of the oldest high courts to be established in India. It has two
active High court Seats - the Principal Seat in Allahabad and Bench in Lucknow.
On March 16, 1973, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the current London Bridge, a prestressed concrete box girder structure. The bridge, replacing a 19th-century predecessor that was sold and moved to Arizona, was constructed between 1967 and 1972 while traffic continued, and it serves as a key crossing connecting the City of London with Southwark.
Key Facts About the March 16
Opening:
The date holds significance as
the inauguration of the modern structure that commuters use today, which spans
approximately 269 meters over the Thames.
The Planning Commission of
India, established on March 15, 1950, played a pivotal role in shaping
India's economic trajectory through its Five-Year Plans, with the first plan
launched in 1951. While there isn't a single famous commemorative stamp
dedicated solely to the institution of the Planning Commission
itself, the themes it promoted—industry, agriculture, and development—are
strongly represented in Indian philately from that era.
Observed in the Principality
of Andorra on March 14 annually, Constitution Day is a public holiday that
commemorates the constitutional referendum held on this day in Andorra
on March 14, 1993. The first Constitution of Andorra was approved by 74.2%
of voters in the country on this date and became the country’s first
constitution.
This constitution contained 107
articles and included a universal declaration of human rights. Under this
constitution, all people in Andorra are equal under the law, and it
forbids not only torture and other cruel forms of punishment but also the death
penalty as well.
The Mumbai General Post Office (GPO) has a historic connection to 13 March, as the construction of its iconic heritage building was completed on 13 March 1913.
Key Facts About the Building
William Henry Bragg, who passed away on 12 March 1942, in London, United Kingdom, aged 79,was a British physicist. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, Bragg spent 23 years teaching at the University of Adelaide in Australia, before returning to the University of Leeds in 1909. There, working with his son William Lawrence, he invented the X-ray spectrometer in 1912, which allowed them to measure the wavelengths of X-rays. X-rays had only been discovered in 1895, and scientists were not entirely sure that they were electromagnetic waves like light and radio waves. The Braggs showed that they are, and that if you bounce X-rays off solid crystals at very slight angles, then the waves are reflected at different angles, depending on their wavelength, which one could now measure.
The pioneer British scientist in solid-state physics was a joint winner
(with his son Sir Lawrence Bragg) of the Nobel Prize for Physics in
1915 for his research on the determination of crystal structures. The Braggs remain the only father-son Nobel Laureates. He
was knighted in 1920.
Sir Alexander Fleming, who passed away on 11 March 1955, aged 73,
in London, England, was a Scottish physician and microbiologist. He
shared the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Howard Florey
and Ernst Chain "for the discovery of penicillin and its
curative effect in various infectious diseases”. This was the first antibiotic
substance discovered. His discovery in 1928 of what was later named benzylpenicillin (or
penicillin G) from the mould Penicillium rubens has been described
as the "single greatest victory ever achieved over disease".
He also discovered the enzyme lysozyme from
his nasal discharge in1922, and along with it a bacterium he named Micrococcus
lysodeikticus, later renamed Micrococcus luteus. Fleming was knighted for
his scientific achievements in 1944. In 1999, he was named in Time magazine's
list of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th century. In
2002, he was included in the BBC’s television poll of the 100 Greatest Britons,
and in 2009, he was also voted third “greatest Scot” in an opinion poll
conducted by STV, behind only Robert Burns and William Wallace.
Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, popularly known by his pen name, Kusumāgraj, who
passed away on 10 March 1999, aged 87, in Shirwade Wani, Nashik, Maharashtra,
India, was a Marathi poet, playwright, novelist and short story
writer, who wrote of freedom, justice and emancipation of the deprived.
In a career spanning five decades starting in India's
pre-independence era, he wrote 16 volumes of poems, three novels, eight volumes
of short stories, seven volumes of essays, 18 plays and six one-act plays. His
works like the Vishakha (1942), a collection of lyrics,
inspired a generation into the Indian freedom movement, and is today
considered one of the masterpieces of Indian literature.
He was the recipient of the 1974 Sahitya Akademi Award in
Marathi for Natsamrat, Padma Bhushan (1991) and the Jnanapith
Award in 1987.
He also served as the President of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi
Sahitya Sammelan held in Margao in 1964.
Amerigo Vespucci, born on 9 March 1454, in Florence,
Italy, was an Italian merchant, explorer, and navigator from the
Republic of Florence, from whose name the term "America" is derived.
Between 1497 and 1504, Vespucci participated in at least two voyages of the Age
of Discovery, first on behalf of Spain and then for Portugal.
On March 8, 1618, Johannes
Kepler discovered his Third
Law of Planetary Motion, often called the Law of Harmonies.
This breakthrough provided the mathematical link between a planet's
distance from the Sun and the time it takes to complete an orbit. Kepler
famously described the moment as an "epiphany" after nearly a decade
of gruelling calculations.
Govind Ballabh Pant, who passed away on 7 March 1961, aged 73, in New Delhi, was an Indian independence activist and
politician who was the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Alongside Mahatma
Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel, Pant was a key figure in
the Indian independence movement and later a pivotal figure in the Indian
government. He was one of the foremost political leaders of Uttar Pradesh (then
known as United Provinces) and a key player in the successful movement to
establish Hindi as the official language of Indian Union.
Today, several Indian hospitals, educational institutions and
foundations bear his name. Pant received India's highest civilian honour,
the Bharat Ratna, in 1957.
National Frozen Food Day is observed annually on March 6th to celebrate the
convenience, innovation, and nutritional value of frozen foods. Established by
President Ronald Reagan in 1984, the day honours the development of modern
freezing techniques. It is a day to highlight how frozen foods help reduce food
waste and provide easy, healthy meal options.
Bijayananda Patnaik, commonly known as Biju Patnaik, born in Cuttack on 5 March 1916,
was an Indian politician, aeronautical engineer, navigator, industrialist,
pilot and freedom fighter. He served as the 3rd Chief Minister of the State of
Odisha from 1990 to 1995 and from 1961 to 1963.
Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, born on 3 March 1839, was an Indian pioneer industrialist
who founded the Tata Group, India's biggest conglomerate company. Named the
greatest philanthropist of the century by several polls and ranking lists, he
also established the city of Jamshedpur. Jamshedji Tata is regarded as the
legendary "Father of Indian Industry". He was so influential in the
world of industry that Jawaharlal Nehru referred to Tata as a One-Man Planning
Commission. "When you have to give the lead in action, in ideas – a lead
which does not fit in with the very climate of opinion – that is true courage,
physical or mental or spiritual, call it what you like, and it is this type of
courage and vision that Jamshedji Tata showed. It is right that we should
honour his memory and remember him as one of the big founders of modern
India." —Jawaharlal Nehru. Tata, who in his early life was a merchant,
went on to change the business world of India through his many ventures within
the cotton and pig iron industry, and is known as one of the most important builders
of the modern Indian economy. Out of his many achievements, Tata is
particularly notable for the Tata Iron and Steel Works company in Jamshedpur. Tata
was ranked first in the "Hurun Philanthropists of the Century" (2021)
by total donations of nearly $102.4 billion with the start of his key
endowments way back in 1892.
Concorde's maiden flight occurred on March 2, 1969, marking the first time the iconic supersonic airliner took to the skies. The flight was a collaborative triumph of the Anglo-French partnership between the United Kingdom and France.
Key Details of the First Flight
Edwin Herbert Land, who passed away on 1 March 1991, aged 81, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., was an American scientist and inventor, best known as the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation. He invented inexpensive filters for polarizing light, a practical system of in-camera instant photography, and the retinex theory of color vision, among other things. His Polaroid instant camera went on sale in late 1948 and made it possible for a picture to be taken and developed in 60 seconds or less.
Land received the President Medal
of Freedom in 1963, the IRI Medal in 1965, the Perkin Medal in 1974, the
Harold Pender Award in1979, and the National Medal of Technology in 1988.
He was also renowned outside of his home country, being a member of
England's Royal Photographic Society, Royal Institution, and Royal
Society (receiving Fellowship of the latter).
February 28 marks the Foundation Day of Auroville, an experimental international township in South India dedicated to human unity.
Historical Significance
World Protein Day is celebrated on February 27th every year. It is a worldwide celebration to mark the importance of protein in our diet for good health. This day aims to promote the significant role of protein for kids and adults alike. It raises awareness about protein and protein deficiency while serving as a reminder of vital nutrients needed for growth, development, and energy.
Date – World Protein Day
The world observes World Protein Day on February 27 every year. Over the years, this day has become a global event. In India as well, National Protein Day is celebrated on the same day to officially spread awareness about the benefits of protein in daily diets.
History & Origin of World Protein Day
Who Initiated World Protein Day and Why?
The world protein day was introduced by the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) to create awareness about protein intake and solve the issue of protein deficiency. The objective is to promote the inclusion of protein-rich foods in daily meals, ensuring better health and nutrition for all.
How the Day Aims to Create Awareness About Protein Deficiency
To raise awareness about protein deficiency, the USSEC launched the ‘Right To Protein’ initiative, encouraging individuals, businesses, and industries to come together and address the rising demand for protein while offering solutions to combat deficiency.
Significance of International Protein Day
International Protein Day plays a crucial role in educating people about the importance of protein consumption. This macronutrient is a building block of the body as it benefits muscle growth, bone health, immunity, tissues, hormones and enzymes, making it vital for overall health.
Moreover, a protein rich diet is a solution to
numerous health challenges. Therefore, it should be consumed regularly by kids
as well as adults.
São João is a vibrant Catholic festival celebrated primarily in Goa, India, and Portuguese-speaking countries on June 24th. Honouring St. ...
