National & International Events - Current Affairs for November, 2017

India-Afghan Cultural Festival in New Delhi has been jointly organized by the Government and Embassy of Afghanistan along with the Government of India and ICCR. India and Afghanistan enjoy age old cultural and civilaisational ties and the deep-rooted linkages in the fields of music, art, architecture, language and cuisine constitute an important bond of friendship between the people of the two countries. While exponents of Afghan classical music such as Ustad Sarahang were trained in the Patiala Gharana, the popular Indian music of bollywood resonates in Afghan homes, The central Bamyan province of Afghanistan is an epitome of our shared Buddhist heritage, he added. Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore's 'Kabuliwala' has connected Indians with the honest and large-hearted Afghans. India-Afghan Festival is a unique event being organized and will further bring out the commonalities between the two countries through art, handicrafts, dance, music and other forms. The three day festival includes cultural performances, handicrafts, exhibitions, cuisine and cultural shows from Afghanistan as well as India.

India's Manushi Chhillar has won the Miss World beauty pageant for the year 2017. The win comes 17 years after Priyanka Chopra brought home the coveted title in the year 2000. Andrea Meza, who is Miss Mexico was the first runner up and Stephanie Hill from England was second runner up. Around 108 women from across the world participated in the beauty pageant. Ms Chhillar, a 20-year-old from Haryana, studied in St. Thomas School in New Delhi and Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women in Sonepat. According to Ms Chhillar's profile on the Miss World website, Ms Chhillar aims to be a cardiac surgeon and has plans of opening non-profit hospitals in rural areas. Ms Chhillar's profile also says she is a trained classical dancer and has a passion for outdoor sports like scuba diving, snorkelling and bungee jumping. Ms Chhillar is the sixth Indian woman to win the coveted title of Miss World. Reita Faria was the first Indian woman to claim the title back in 1966, followed by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 1994, Diana Haydon in 1997, Yukta Mookhey in 1999 and Ms Chopra in 2000. The winner of last year's title, Puerto Rico's Stephanie Del Valle passed on her crown to Ms Chhillar.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development will celebrate the Child Rights Week (Hausla 2017) from 16^th to 20^th November, 2017. The country celebrates the Children's Day on 14^th November and the International Child Rights Day is celebrated on 20th November every year. The period between the two important events will be celebrated as Child Rights Week by WCD Ministry by hosting an Inter CCI Festival for the children who reside in Child Care Institutions (CCIs). The commemoration of the festival "Hausla 2017" will provide an occasion to showcase the talents of children from CCIs from various child care institutions across the country and provide them with a space to express their dreams and aspiration. Children will be participating in various events like Bal Sansad, painting competition, athletics meet, football, chess competition and speech writing. The following events are proposed to be organized: 1. Bal Sansad on 16^th November 2017 2. Painting Competition on 16^th November 2017 3. Athletics Meet, Chess Competition and Football Matches on 19-20^th November 2017 4. Speech Writing Child Reporters from street children's news magazine "Balaknama" will cover the entire event and publish it in their magazine, with due approval of the content from Ministry. CIF, CARA and NIPCCD are assisting the Ministry in organising the events. UNICEF will be supporting the Ministry in publishing the compiled speeches in the form of a booklet.