Important Dates & Festivities - Current Affairs for March, 2017

World Theatre Day was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI), France.

It is celebrated annually on the 27th March by ITI Centres and the international theater community.

The first World Theatre Day Message was written by Jean Cocteau in 1962.

WTD is organized by International Theatre Institute (ITI). ITI is headquartered in Paris, France.

ITI: Know More

• Formation: 1948, Prague
• Type: Specialized agency
• Legal status: Active
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Head: Tobias Biancone, Director-General of ITI
• Website: www.iti-worldwide.org

The 5th edition of the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2017 was held in Tawang in AP.

It was organised by the Union Ministry of Culture to preserve, promote and popularise the heritage and cultural diversity of Indian culture and reconnect the new generation with it.

Around 5000 NE artists and 2000 artists from across the nation will showcase India's heritage through cuisines, performance and art.

The Mahotsav will then extend to Dimapur (Nagaland), Majuli (Assam), Aizawl (Mizoram), Imphal (Manipur), Gangtok (Sikkim) and Shillong (Meghalaya) among others.

The festival will be inaugurated at Parade Ground, Tawang in AP on March 23 and then across other states of the region.

Cultural programmes will be held for a duration of the festival from March 23-25.

Essential core of the mahotsav is to strengthen cultural interlinkages and national integration

The festival will be implemented through the seven Zonal Cultural Centres and other organisations under Ministry of Culture.

Know More About the Mahotsav

• The North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Dimapur has been entrusted with the responsibility as the nodal agency to carry forward the execution of the National Cultural Festival.
• Each Zonal Cultural Centre has been provided with slots to present their arts during the festival which would showcase an amalgamation of ‘Ek Bharat, Srestha Bharat’, ‘Hamaari Sanskriti, Hamaari Panchaan’ and ‘Swachh India’.
• The festival will showcase the spectacular diversity of India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Bengal through folk, tribal and classical art forms.
• Exhibition on Buddhist art and tradition is also being organised at Parade Ground of Tawang.
• Craftsmen from all over the country will display and sell handicrafts to the general public.

This year, the theme of World TB Day 2017 is Unite to End TB.

WHO has placed a special focus on uniting efforts to Leave No One Behind.

India has the highest number of TB patients internationally.

This constitutes about 25 percent of all cases.

While urban TB afflicts more individuals annually, a similar case in rural area remains infectious for a longer time period as per new research findings.

WHO: Know More

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Founded: 7 April 1948
• Head: Margaret Chan
• Customer service: 011 6656 4800
• Founders: India, Philippines, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, Colombia, more
• Parent organization: United Nations

The World Meteorological Day was observed globally on 23^rd March 2017.

The theme of WMD 2017 is ‘Understanding Cloud’ to highlight the enormous importance of clouds for weather climate and water.

The day is organized every year by World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The theme aims to highlight the enormous importance of clouds for weather climate and water. Clouds are central to weather observations and forecasts.

Clouds are one of the key uncertainties in the study of climate change: we need to better understand how clouds affect the climate and how a changing climate will affect clouds.

Clouds play a critical role in the water cycle and shaping the global distribution of water resources.

World Meteorological Day marks the launch of a new edition of the International Cloud Atlas after the most thorough and far-reaching revision in its long and distinguished history.

The new WMO Atlas is a treasure trove of hundreds of images of clouds, including a few newly classified cloud types.

It also features other meteorological phenomena such as rainbows, halos, snow devils and hailstones.

For the first time ever, the Atlas has been produced in a digital format and is accessible via both computers and mobile devices.

The International Cloud Atlas has its roots in the late 19th century. It was revised on several occasions in the 20th century, most recently in 1987, as a hard copy book, before the advent of the Internet.

What Are Snow Devils?

• Whirlwinds are subdivided into two main types, the great (or major) whirlwinds and the lesser (or minor) whirlwinds.
• The first category includes tornadoes, waterspouts, and landspouts.
• Some lesser whirlwinds may sometimes form in a similar manner to greater whirlwinds with related increase in intensity.
• These intermediate types include the gustnado and the fire whirl.
• Other lesser whirlwinds include dust devils, as well as steam devils, snow devils, debris devils, leaf devils, and shear eddies such as the mountainado and eddy whirlwinds.

The World Poetry Day was celebrated on 21 March 2017 across the globe.

The objective behind the day is to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression as well as to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their societies.

The day also provides an occasion to honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry.

World Poetry Day: Know More

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) first adopted 21 March as World Poetry Day.
• This was during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999.
• Each nation is invited to celebrate the day in its own manner with the active participation of National Commissions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public and private institutions concerned.
• For its part, UNESCO will endeavour to encourage and support national initiatives designed, to promote poetry.

The World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) was observed on 21 March 2017.

On this day of observation of the World Down Syndrome Day people with down syndrome and their nearby organise and participate in activities to raise public awareness of Down syndrome.

The day also seeks to create a single global voice for advocating for the rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down syndrome.

The 2017 WDSD will focus on the theme #MyVoiceMyCommunity – Enabling people with Down syndrome to speak up, be heard and influence government policy and action, to be fully included in the community.

About WDSD

• Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition, exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical characteristics or health.
• People suffering from the syndrome require adequate access to health care, inclusive education and early intervention programmes for their growth and development.
• The World Down Syndrome Day came into existence in December 2011, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 21 March as a day via its resolution (A/RES/66/149).
• The General Assembly decided, with effect from 2012, to observe World Down Syndrome Day annually on 21 March.

International Day of Forests was celebrated on March 21, 2017 with “Forests and Energy” being the central theme of the celebrations.

International Day of Forests is celebrated on March 21 annually, the world over. This brings the role of forests in safeguarding the ecological security and livelihood of millions of people all around the globe.

Forests provide clean energy, energy and water. Sustainably managed forests can provide renewable and carbon neutral energy for a greener future.

The theme of Forests and Energy has been chosen by UN to showcase the importance of wood energy in improving people's lives and mitigating climate change.

Wood is a major renewable energy source.

Wood provides the world with more energy than solar, hydroelectric and wind power. Around 300 million people in India depend on forests for their livelihood.

Trees in urban areas can cool air between 2 to 8 degree celsius. Woods also mitigate climate change and foster sustainable development.

Forests hold energy content 10 times of the world's annual primary energy consumption.

Greater investment in technological innovation and sustained managed forests is the role for increasing forest role as a major source of renewable energy.

This year's campaign theme highlights vital energy in Indian forests including cultural, ecological and livelihood benefits.

The Commonwealth Day 2017 was celebrated by the 52 countries of the Commonwealth on 13 March 2017.

The theme of the day was ‘A peace-building Commonwealth’.

It is a natural follow-up from the 2016 theme ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth’.

The theme cements Commonwealth Charter principle that international peace and security, sustainable economic growth and development are essential to the progress and prosperity of all.

This annual observation of the day marks 40 years of the Commonwealth Day that became a global celebration in 1977.

Commonwealth: Know More

• It world’s oldest political associations of states.
• It began back when some countries were ruled by Britain under the British Empire and was founded in December 1931.
• The countries that became self-governing, while keeping Britain’s monarch as Head of State, formed the British Commonwealth of Nations.
• The Commonwealth came into existence in 1949 and since then independent countries from Africa, America, Asia, Europe and the Pacific have joined the group.
• Headquarters : Marlborough House, London
• Working language : English

Bangladesh’s unanimously adopted a resolution declaring March 25 as Genocide Day.

This is in remembrance of the atrocities carried out by the Pakistani Army in the night of March 25, 1971.

Condemning the denial of history by Pakistan, the Bangladeshi legislators passed the motion unanimously after a marathon seven-hour discussion on Saturday night.

A total of 56 MPs, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, took part.

The Pakistan Army swooped on unarmed civilians on the night of March 25, 1971, to crush the Bengali rebellion following refusal by the military leadership to accept the election results of 1970 in which the Awami League got thumping majority .

‘Operation Searchlight’ began in the first hours of March 25 in Dhaka.

Bangladesh: Know More

• Capital: Dhaka
• Currency: Bangladeshi taka
• Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina
• Population: 156.6 million (2013) World Bank
• President: Abdul Hamid

The World Kidney Day 2017 was observed on March 9, 2017 with the theme Kidney Disease and Obesity: Healthy Lifestyle for Healthy Kidneys.

The WKD 2017 sought to promote education about dangerous consequences of obesity and association with kidney diseases.

The WKD is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephorology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations.

The day focuses on international health awareness campaign with a focus on the importance of kidneys.

The day is observed to study the frequency and impact of kidney diseases and associated health problems worldwide.

World Kidney Day was first celebrated in 2006.

About the ISN

• The ISN is an NPO society dedicated to advancing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of kidney diseases.
• The society, which saw its 50th anniversary in 2010, is active in over 126 countries across the world.
• The IFKF, an NPO, was established in 1999.
• At present, it has a membership of 63 kidney foundations and patient groups in more than 41 countries. The foundation works to improve the health, well-being and quality of life of individuals with kidney disease.

The fifth edition of the mega cultural festival India by the Nile was held in Egypt from March 8 to showcase India's diversity and the partnership between two ancient civilisations.

For the first time, the Indian flag will be projected onto the Giza Pyramids as part of the celebration.

The festival, to be held in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Port Said and Ismaila governorates from March 8 to April 27, is the largest cultural foreign festival in Egypt.

It has been a great success in the country.

This year, India is celebrating 70 years of independence as well as 70 years of diplomatic relations with Egypt.

This year's India by the Nile Festival focuses on the youth of both countries and this will be reflected in the festival's programme, which will include the participation of India's under-16 football team, which will play two matches against Egypt's under-16 national team.

To promote Indian and Egyptian handicrafts, India will be organising a handicraft exhibition from March 8 to 14.

The exhibition is organised in partnership with the Indian Ministry of Textile; Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, the Egyptian Ministry of Solidarity and the Federation of Egyptian Industries.

A national delegation of award-winning handicraft artisans from India will be visiting Egypt to take part in the exhibition.

The Embassy of India in Cairo, in collaboration with Teamwork Arts, presented 'Crafts Mela' as part of the IBN 2017 cultural festival.

The festival, which is a celebration of Indian music, dance, theatre, visual arts, food and wellbeing, is the largest foreign festival in Egypt showcasing 70 events across the country.

Egypt: Know More

• Capital: Cairo
• Code: +20
• Currency: Egyptian pound
• President: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
• Official languages: Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic

The annual tribal festival Bhagoria commenced in 5 districts of Madhya Pradesh from March 6.

The week-long festival is organised at different Bhagoria haats (local markets) in Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar, Khargone and Barwani districts in western Madhya Pradesh.

Bhagoria Haat is the colorful festival of the Bhils and the Bhilalas.

This festival is held particularly in the district of West Nimar and Jhabua and the ‘haat’ is held actually in the nature of a mass ‘Svayamvara’ or a marriage market.

This is indicated in the name of the festival, Bhagoria Haat and during the festival the young people elope after choosing their partners.

They are later on accepted as husband and wife by the society through prearranged customs.

As per tradition, the boy is supposed to apply gulal, red powder, on the face of the girl whom he chooses as his wife.

If the girl is willing, she also applies gulal on the boy’s face.

The Bhagoria Haat also concurs with the completion of harvesting, making it an agricultural festival as well.

The Bhagoria Haat Festival is held on 25th feb to 5th March 2016, mainly on various market days before the beginning of the Holi Festival.

MP: Know More

• Area: 308,252 km^²
• Population: 73.34 million (2012)
• Chief minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Capitals: Bhopal, Jabalpur (Judiciary)

To celebrate International Women's Day, Twitter is enabling users across India to spotlight the women who inspire them with the hashtags #SheInspiresMe or #SheLeadsIndia.

These hashtags will trigger a #WomensDay emoji.

The emoji would be the gender symbol for females and a representation of feminism and will be available till April 1.

Twitter has also partnered with digital video storytelling platform @SheThePeopleTV, to host a special #BlueRoom session to talk about the issues women in media and technology face.

The session would be live on March 8 at 5:30 p.m. from both @TwitterIndia and @SheThePeopleTV handles, the statement added.

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Centenary Celebrations of Women’s Indian Association (March 3, 2017) at Adyar, Chennai.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that no society can call itself civilized if it does not accord due value to its women and female children and guarantee their safety and security.

Government schemes and programmes to promote gender justice can never succeed unless a deep commitment to basic human values is built into our very consciousness.

Violence against women reflects violence in the hearts and minds of those that perpetrate these acts.

The President remembered Dr. Annie Besant and Smt. Sarojini Naidu who had played a leading role in the foundation of the Indian Women’s Association.

He said that role of Women’s Indian Association in the enactment and implementation of the Child Marriage Restraint Act for raising the minimum age for marriage of women and the Sarada Bill for abolishing the Devadasi system is well recognised.

He said that he looks forward to more branches of the Women’s Indian Association taking up social causes with commitment and zeal to be the change they want to see.

The World Hearing Day 2017 was observed globally on 3 March 2017 with the theme ‘Action for hearing loss: make a sound investment’.

This year’s theme stresses the economic impact of hearing loss.

Hearing loss poses a high cost for the economy globally and has a significant impact on the lives of those affected.

World Hearing Day 2017 highlights actions which can be undertaken by decision-makers to address hearing loss.

Hearing loss and its consequences can be mitigated through prevention, screening for early identification, rehabilitation through hearing devices, captioning and sign language education.

Half of all hearing loss can be avoided through prevention.

Primary health care interventions including immunizing children against diseases such as measles, meningitis, rubella and immunizing adolescent girls of reproductive age against rubella will greatly reduce risk of congenital hearing loss among babies.

Identifying hearing loss through screening of newborns, school children and adults above 50 years at an early stage and then carrying out their treatment at the beginning stage itself comes out to be little cost effective.

World Hearing Day was designated at the First International Conference on Prevention and Rehabilitation of Hearing Impairment in Beijing, China in 2007.

The day aims to raise awareness and promote ear and hearing care across the world.

World Wildlife Day will be celebrated on 3rd March 2017 with the theme “Listen to the Young Voices.”

Given that almost one quarter of the world’s population is aged between 10 and 24, vigorous efforts need to be made to encourage young people, as the future leaders and decision makers of the world, to act at both local and global levels to protect endangered wildlife.

World Wildlife Day 2017 encourages youth around the world to rally together to address ongoing major threats to wildlife including habitat change, over-exploitation or illicit trafficking.

Youth are the agents of change.

WWD: Know More

• Also called: Wildlife Day / WWD
• Observed by: All UN Member States
• Celebrations: To celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora
• Date: 3 March

Assam will host its first river festival- Namami Brahmaputra at the riverfront of Brahmaputra in Guwahati from 31 March to 4 April 2017.

The decision was announced by Assam’s Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal himself. The state’s government has invited India’s President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

Ambassadors of all the countries and all Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries to participate in the mega event.

The 5-day festival aims to promote the state’s economy, culture, art, tourism, skill industry, investment option, trade, commerce and heritage.

Namami Brahmaputra, which means “Obeisance to the Brahmaputra”, will showcase the grandeur of the river and the land it flows through.

It will be spread across 21 districts of Assam.

The international event would feature traditional Assamese sports, cultural performances, business meets, exhibitions, seminars and symposiums, river ecosystem zones and interpretation events.

It would also feature a film festival, comprising the screening of leading Assamese films.

Other events include tea festival, river cruises, rafting, visits to tea gardens and programmes related to history, tradition and legends of Assam.

A group of government officials will be visiting all the state capitals and major cities as a part of the festival to create a positive image of the state beforehand.

Through the festival, the state government basically aims to expose the tourists from both India and abroad to Assam’s rich legacy and splendour and represent it as a viable tourist destination on the world map.

Apart from this, the government also hopes to create an environment that would reconnect the people with their roots and rejuvenate the Brahmaputra civilisation.

The Zero Discrimination Day was held on March, 01 2017. This United Nations Day aims to combat all forms of discrimination.

Specifically, this involves the organization of UNAIDS and their fight for a fair and equal treatment of patients suffering from HIV and AIDS.

Worldwide around 40 million people live with the so-called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

The United Nations program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) follows the goal of individual countries and their use in the fight against AIDS to support and coordinate their activities.

On Zero Discrimination Day global actions took place to raise awareness.