Current Affairs - Festivity

Bandi Chhor Divas in 2025 falls on October 21. This Sikh festival commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji from Gwalior Fort along with 52 princes. The day coincides with Diwali but has its own unique spiritual significance, symbolizing liberation, justice, and selflessness. Sikhs celebrate it with prayers, devotional singing, lighting of lamps, and community service through langar. The festival honours the Guru’s act of ensuring freedom for others, highlighting values of equality, compassionate leadership, and collective responsibility. Its observance is widespread both in India and across the global Sikh diaspora.

The 2025 Dehradun Literature Festival marks its 7th edition, celebrating literature, art, and cultural dialogue. The event will feature distinguished personalities such as Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, writer and columnist Shobhaa De, and singer Usha Uthup. With the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Voices of Unity,” the festival emphasises the spirit of global harmony and shared human values. Hosted at the Doon International School in Dehradun, the festival continues to serve as a vibrant platform for authors, artists, and thinkers to exchange creative ideas and cultural perspectives.

The Mera Hou Chongba festival is celebrated in Manipur and is a unique cultural event that symbolises Hill-valley unity, promoting communal harmony among all indigenous communities. Observed annually on the 15th lunar day of the Mera month in the Meitei calendar, the festival features traditional rituals and a ceremonial march from the Royal Palace to Kangla. It stands out as the only festival in Manipur where participants from all indigenous communities come together, highlighting the state’s rich heritage, social cohesion, and the celebration of cultural diversity.

The Centre for Makhana Excellence was launched in Patna, Bihar, during a Makhana Festival attended by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The centre aims to enhance quality control, promote value addition, and support the growth of the makhana industry in India. Alongside the launch, the Minister released the report “Makhana to the world — from culture to prosperity,” highlighting strategies to expand the market reach and economic potential of this aquatic crop. The initiative reflects the government’s focus on boosting agricultural innovation and promoting regional specialties for national and global markets.

Telangana earned global recognition when its Bathukamma Festival set two Guinness World Records — one for the largest floral arrangement and another for the most synchronised female dance event. The vibrant festival, symbolizing devotion to Goddess Gauri and the celebration of feminine energy, featured over 300 artisans crafting a massive floral structure in 72 hours and thousands of women performing traditional dances in unison. Bathukamma, deeply rooted in Telangana’s agrarian and cultural traditions, coincides with Navratri and promotes eco-friendly practices, women’s empowerment, and community harmony, showcasing the state’s rich cultural heritage on an international stage.