World Water Day

World Water Day is an annual United Nations (UN) observance day held on 22 March that highlights the importance of fresh water. The day is used to advocate the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The theme each year focuses on topics relevant to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), which is in line with the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6. The UN World Water Development Report (WWDR) is released each year around World Water Day.

The first World Water Day, designated by the United Nations, was in 1993.

Namibia Independence Day

 

Namibia located in southern Africa, celebrates its Independence Day on 21 March every year. The country’s name comes from the word “nama,” which means “vast place.”

The name referred to the Namib Desert, which is considered to be the oldest desert in the world. Namibia has a rich history that includes prehistoric African tribes such as Nama, San, and Damara.

In 1485, Portuguese explorer Diogo Cao led the first European expedition to the country.

Namibia became a German colony under Otto Von Bismarck in 1884, known at the time as Deutsch-Südwestafrika, or South-West Africa. During this time, the Germans executed over 10,000 natives of Namibia.

After World War I, South Africa took control of the country. However, after World War II, the United Nations (UN) sanctioned South Africa to relinquish control over Namibia, which it refused to do.

In the 1970s, revolts for independence began, with neighbouring countries such as Angola and Zambia already having gained their independence from South Africa. The People’s Liberation Army of Namibia led the struggle for the country’s independence from South Africa.

In 1988, South Africa agreed to give the country its much-awaited freedom, and on 21 March 1990, the Republic of Namibia was declared, with Sam Nujoma as its first president.

World Down Syndrome Day

Every year, World Down Syndrome Day is observed on March 21. Every year, World Down Syndrome Day is observed to raise awareness about the discrimination faced by people with Down Syndrome. We should all come together to create unity in diversity and embrace the beauty of individuality.

Down Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect a person physically and mentally. It makes communication and social interactions challenging for a person. In Down Syndrome, a person has an extra chromosome or an extra piece of a chromosome. This keeps changing as the person's body and brain develop. Some of the symptoms of Down Syndrome are distinct facial appearance, intellectual disability, and developmental delays. Some of the treatment options available for Down Syndrome are speech therapy, physical exercise and special education. The average life expectancy of a person with Down Syndrome is usually 60 years.

History:

In 2012, World Down Syndrome Day was officially announced by the United Nations to be celebrated on March 21 every year. The date was chosen keeping in mind the 21st chromosome that is responsible for causing Down Syndrome. Since then, the special day is observed every year on March 21.

Significance:

The day is celebrated to raise awareness about the rights, inclusion and wellbeing of people with Down Syndrome. It also emphasises on the need and support of families and friends together to help people with Down Syndrome feel included. Stereotypes and stigma surrounding the condition is challenged on this day. World Down Syndrome Day also celebrates the achievements and the contributions of people with Down Syndrome in promoting their independence and cause.

World Puppetry Day

World Puppetry Day is celebrated every year on 21 March. This day is dedicated to the Puppetry art form and it is also an opportunity to pay tribute to the puppeteers who live all over the world. The World Puppetry Day was first established in 2003 by the Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA).

The history of puppetry can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization in 2500 B.C. A terracotta doll with a detachable head was found by archaeologists. This puppet was capable of being manipulated by a string and it was a very popular form of entertainment that was performed for the common people.

Puppetry also has a history in ancient Greece. The "Greece" puppetry shows that were performed in front of the common people and had a strong influence on the development of European puppetry.

The first archaeological evidence of puppets in Egypt was also found in 2000 B.C. These puppets were made of wood and they were operated by string.

In 16th century, the traditional British "Punch and Judy" puppetry originated from the Italian commedia dell'arte. This form of puppetry became very popular with the common people and it continued to evolve through the 19th century.

The World Puppetry Day is an opportunity to recognize the Puppetry art form as a global community and to celebrate the diversity of puppetry practices around the world. It is also a day to reflect on the importance of maintaining and safeguarding the traditional traditions of puppetry.

This day reminds us that puppetry transcends all types of cultural and linguistic barriers. It makes people happy and distracts them from their daily stress.

World Puppetry Day takes us back to our childhood where we played with dolls and inanimate objects and gave them names. We should observe this day to keep the child in us alive.

 

International Colour Day

 

International Colour Day is an annual event held on March 21 to celebrate colour.

The adoption of a worldwide day of colour was proposed in 2008 by the Portuguese Color Association, whose president, Maria Joao Durao, presented the idea to the International Colour Association (abbreviated as AIC for its French name, Association Internationale de la Couleur). The proposal was agreed upon in 2009 among the members of the AIC, which is composed of national colour organizations and members representing over 30 countries.

International Colour Day was thereby established, with the 21st of March adopted as the official date. This date was chosen because it is around the equinox, when "the sun shines directly on the equator," and thus, the duration of day and night are approximately equal in length around the world.

International Day of Forests

 

International Day of Forests also known as World Forestry Day, is celebrated on March 21 each year. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to raise awareness about the importance of forests and trees.

The day aims to promote the sustainable management conservation, and development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

Ustad Bismillah Khan's Birth Anniversary

Ustad Bismillah Khan, often referred to by the title Ustad, born on 21 March 1916, was an Indian musician who played the shehnai, a ceremonial oboelike North Indian horn, with such expressive virtuosity that he became a leading Indian classical music artist. His name was indelibly linked with the woodwind instrument.

Khan was born into a family of court musicians in Bihar. He was apprenticed to his uncle, Ali Baksh, who played the shehnai in Vishvanatha, a Hindu temple in Varanasi. He accompanied his uncle in playing at ceremonies for Hindu deities as well as at weddings. Khan learned numerous musical forms and ragas, and he improvised patterns that had been considered impossible for the shehnai. His concert performance at the All-India Music Conference in Kolkata in 1937 gained him public respect, and the shehnai, traditionally used only in a ceremonial capacity, came to be seen as a classical music instrument. Years of concert and radio performances and recordings followed.

Khan was a devout Muslim but performed at both Hindu and Muslim ceremonies and was considered a symbol of religious harmony. His fame was such that he was selected to perform for the ceremony at Delhi’s historic Red Fort as the Indian flag unfurled at the hour of India’s independence on August 15, 1947; his music was played on television every Independence Day. He turned down invitations to perform in other countries before 1966, when the Indian government insisted that he play at the Edinburgh International Festival. This gained him a following in the West, and he continued to appear in Europe and North America thereafter. In 2001, Khan was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, and the country observed a national day of mourning following his death in 2006.