1. Urban Climate Film Festival, 2023
Tags: Festivals
The National Institute of Urban Affairs is organising the first Urban Climate Film Festival under U20 engagement events from 24 March.
An overview of the news
The Urban Climate Film Festival was launched on 24 March at the ML Bhartia Auditorium in New Delhi.
The festival is being organized with the support of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Union.
A curated selection of 11 films from 9 countries will be screened to create wider awareness of the impact of climate change on life in cities and engage the public in the dialogue on sustainable urban development.
Selected films will be screened at the festival in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.
The event, to be held from 25 to 26 March 2023, includes 11 award-winning films and interactive sessions from countries such as India, France, Germany, Belgium, Poland and USA.
About National Institute of Urban Affairs
It is a central autonomous body under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
It is a national think-tank undertaking cutting-edge multidisciplinary research, knowledge exchange and capacity development, policy planning in the area of urban development.
It is also serving as the technical secretariat for the U20, the urban engagement group of the G20.
2. Ugadi Festival 2023
Tags: Festivals
In the year 2023 Ugadi festival is going to be celebrated by the citizens on 22 March.
About Ugadi festival
Widely celebrated in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the new year festival Ugadi, also known as Yugadi, is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
The day falls on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra, and usually occurs in March or April.
Ugadi begins with the first day of the nine-day festival Chaitra Navratri, and also marks the beginning of spring.
It is believed that on this day Lord Brahmacreated the universe.
The name 'Yugadi' itself is derived from the Sanskrit words yuga (age) and adi (beginning) - 'the beginning of a new age'.
In the 12th century, the Indian mathematician Bhaskaracharya recognized Ugadi as the beginning of the new year.
People from all walks of life celebrate this day by wearing new clothes and eating delicious food.
They offer prayers at temples to welcome the new year, and they decorate their homes with rangolis, which are designs made of colored rice or flower petals on the floor.
3. Matua mela is being organised in West Bengal
Tags: Festivals State News
The Matua Mela is being organized in West Bengal to commemorate the 212th birth anniversary of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur, the founder of the Matua sect.
About Matua Maha Mela
West Bengal is hosting the Matua Maha Mela 2023 from March 19 to March 25.
This Mela is being organized by All India Matua Federation.
It is being organized at Shridham Thakurnagar, Thakurbari in North 24 Parganas of West Bengal.
The occasion offers the chance for the Matua community to get together, take part in religious rituals, and honour their spiritual elders.
The occasion provides an important opportunity to this community to highlight their customs and cultural heritage.
Matua Community
The Matua community has a sizeable population in both West Bengal and Bangladesh.
The Matua sect was founded by Sri Sri Harichand Thakur in the nineteenth century.
Over the years the Matua community has faced many hardships including marginalization and prejudice.
The community has persevered in keeping alive its unique cultural heritage and traditions.
After the formation of Bangladesh, their large population migrated to India.
Many people of the community are yet to obtain Indian citizenship.
4. G20 Flower Festival begins in New Delhi
Tags: Festivals
From 11 March, the Flower Festival began at Delhi's Connaught Plaza with an aim to showcase the diversity of the G20 participants and invited nations.
News Overview
It was inaugurated by Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav.
Themain objective of the festival is to showcase the vibrancy and diversity of the G20 members and guest countries.
To achieve this objective, the festival will showcase a variety of flowering plants in various colours and arrangements, highlighting the richness of the Indian subcontinent.
Along with plants, paintings and photographs of flowers from G20 members and invited countries will be displayed.
The festival provides a unique opportunity to appreciate the beauty and diversity of flora and cultural heritage of the participating countries.
About the G20
It is an international forum of the world's leading economies established in 1999.
Its primary objective is to promote international financial stability and sustainable economic growth.
The G20 serves as a forum to discuss and coordinate policies related to a wide range of economic and financial issues such as trade, investment, employment, energy and climate change.
5. 'Divya Kala Mela' to be held at Bhopal Haat, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Tags: Festivals State News
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) is organizing ‘Divya Kala Mela’ from 12th to 21st March, 2023 at Bhopal Haat, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
An overview of the news
The event will be inaugurated by Hon’ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh Mangu Bhai Patel on 12Th March.
It is a unique event showcasing the products and craftsmanship of Divyang entrepreneurs/artisans from across the country.
The event will provide an exciting experience to the visitors of vibrant products from different parts of the country including Jammu & Kashmir, North Eastern States which will bring together handicrafts, handlooms, embroidery works and packaged food etc.
Around 150 Divyang artisans/artists and entrepreneurs from around 21 States/UTs will be showcasing their products and skills.
The wide range of products includes - home decor & lifestyle, clothing, stationery & eco-friendly products, packaged food & organic products, toys & gifts, personal accessories - jewelry, clutch bags etc.
It will be an opportunity for all to be 'Vocal for Local' and products made by Divyang artisans can be seen/purchased.
In December 2022, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities organized the Divya Kala Mela at the historic Kartavya Path in New Delhi.
6. National Youth Parliament Festival
Tags: Festivals
The 4th edition of the National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) began on 2 March 2023 at the Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi.
An overview of the news
The fourth edition of the National Youth Parliament Festival, 2023 was launched with the theme "Ideas for a Better Tomorrow: India for the World".
Its objective is to strengthen democracy and enable the student community to understand the working of Parliament.
The event saw the participation of 87 state level winners competing for the top positions, wherein 29 finalists were presented before the National Jury for final selection.
Members of the jury also included Members of Parliament and Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
More than 2.01 lakh youth from 748 districts of all states and union territories participated in it at 150 locations across the country.
About National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF)
It is based on the idea given by the Prime Minister in his Mann Ki Baat Address.
The 1st edition was organized in 2019 with the theme “Be the Voice of New India and Find solutions and Contribute to Policy”.
The second edition of the National Youth Parliament Festival 2021 was organized with the theme "YUVAAH- Utsah Naye Bharat Ka".
The 3rd edition of the Festival was organized in 2022 with the theme “Be the Voice of New India and Find solutions and Contribute to Policy”.
The National Youth Parliament Festival is organized at three levels-
District Youth Parliament (DYP) - Preliminary round of screening is conducted for selection of youth to participate in DYP by Jury.
State Youth Parliament (SYP) - Youth selected by jury from District Youth Parliament participate in SYP at State level.
National Youth Parliament (NYP) - Youth selected by the jury from the State Youth Parliament participate at the National level in NYP at New Delhi.
7. Anurag Thakur launched Yuva Utsava - [email protected] from Ropar in Punjab
Tags: Festivals National News
Youth Affairs, Sports and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched the Youth Festival - India @ 2047 from Ropar in Punjab on 4th March.
An overview of the news
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through its flagship youth organization Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) is organizing the “Yuva Utsav-India @2047” program in all districts across the country.
He also launched the Dashboard of Yuva Utsav during the event.
Yuva Utsava will be simultaneously hosted at Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, Haridwar in Uttrakhand, Dhar and Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh, Hanumangarh in Rajasthan, Saraikela in Jharkhand, Kapurthala in Punjab, Jalgaon in Maharashtra, Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, Karimnagar in Telangana, Palakkad in Kerala and Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu.
In the first phase, to celebrate youth power, youth festivals will be organized in 150 districts across the country till 31st of this month.
The district level winners will participate in the state level youth festival which is a two day event to be held in the state capitals during August to September 2023.
The winners of all the state level events will participate in the national level youth festival to be held in 3rd/4th week of October, 2023 at Delhi.
8. International Yoga Festival 2023 on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh
Tags: Festivals
The International Yoga Festival 2023, organised by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council on March 1, 2023, was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh.
An overview of the news:
On March 1, 2023, a grand ceremony was organised for the International Yoga Festival at Yoga Ghat near GMVN Ganga Resort located at Muni Ki Reti. In which the famous Yogacharya of the country guided the Yoga seekers.
Renowned Yogacharya Padmashree Sivananda and Padmabhushan Rajinikanth were also present on the occasion.
Sages and sages acquired many methods of yoga on the banks of the Ganges and presented yoga for the welfare of mankind.
In the coming days this year, two G-20 conferences are to be held in Rishikesh.
Uttarakhand:
Capital: Dehradun in winter, Gairsain inehradun i summer.
Governor: Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh
Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami
9. Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela organised by IARI in Delhi
ThePusa Krishi Vigyan Mela, organised every year by theIndian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), will be organised inDelhi from 2 to 4 March 2023.
An Overview of the news:
Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela will be inaugurated by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.Narendra Singh Tomar is the chief guest in this event.
The theme of the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela is “Nutrition, Food and Environmental Protection with Shree Anna”.
The main attractions of the fair this year are- technical sessions on important and contemporary issues in agriculture, development of Shree Anna based value chain under International Shree Anna Varsh, smart farming / protected farming model, climate friendly and sustainable agriculture, agricultural marketing and export.
Agri-startups, especially Shree Anna based startups will set up their stalls. This will motivate the youth to start startups as a source of livelihood.
Live demonstrations of important varieties of wheat, mustard, gram, vegetables, flowers and fruits will be held at the fair.
Farmers counselling stalls will help in solving the problems of the farmers.
Awards will be given by the institute to encourage the farmers.
During this, the Innovative Farmers' Conference will facilitate exchange of information among the farmers.
10. PM inaugurates ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’, Amrit Mahotsav of Delhi-Karnataka Sangha
Tags: Festivals National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ cultural festival at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on 25 February.
An overview of the news
The festival is organised under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and celebrates the culture, traditions and history of Karnataka.
In line with the Prime Minister's vision of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat', the 'Barisu Kannada Dim Dimva' cultural festival is being organized to celebrate the culture, traditions and history of Karnataka.
Held under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the festival will provide an opportunity to hundreds of artistes to showcase the cultural heritage of Karnataka through dance, music, drama, poetry etc.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme was launched by the Prime Minister Modi on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
This programme is a unique initiative by the Government to promote the spirit of national integration and to strengthen the fabric of emotional bonds between the people of our country.
Every State and UT in the country would be paired with another State/UT for a time period, during which they would carry out a structured engagement with one another in the spheres of language, literature, cuisine, festivals, cultural events, tourism etc.
