Current Affairs - Festivity

The 21st Third Eye Asian Film Festival began in Mumbai, featuring 61 films, including the award-winning Chinese drama The Black Dog. South Korea is the focus country with six showcased films, while the Asian Spectrum section includes contributions from China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and more. Renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar is set to receive the Asian Cinema Culture Award, and Rafique Baghdadi will be honoured with the Satyajit Ray Memorial Award, highlighting the festival's emphasis on Asian cinema and cultural appreciation.

The Kagyed Dance Festival is a major Buddhist celebration in Sikkim, held annually at Tsuklakhang Palace in Gangtok. Featuring traditional Cham dances performed by masked monks, the festival symbolizes the destruction of evil forces and the welcoming of peace and prosperity. Rooted in Tibetan Buddhism, it attracts locals and tourists alike, showcasing Sikkim's rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

Nepal organized the 18th Elephant and Tourism Festival in Sauraha, Chitwan, attracting numerous local and international visitors during the New Year and Christmas season. The event featured unique activities such as elephant parades, beauty contests, and football matches, with over 80 elephants participating. Notably, elephant polo was excluded from the festival to address animal rights concerns, emphasizing Nepal’s commitment to wildlife well-being while celebrating its rich cultural heritage and promoting tourism.

The National Science Drama Festival 2024 will be hosted at the National Science Centre in New Delhi on 27th-28th December. This event will feature science-themed dramas performed by over 40,000 students from across India. Topics such as AI, climate change, water conservation, and medical breakthroughs will be highlighted. The festival will be inaugurated by Prof. Ashok Chakradhar and conclude with Shri Robin Kumar Das as the Chief Guest, emphasizing the integration of science with creative expression.

The 100th Tansen Music Festival, held in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, achieved a Guinness World Record for the largest ensemble of 536 artists playing nine different instruments simultaneously for nine minutes. Organized by the Culture Department of Madhya Pradesh, the Tansen Samaroh celebrates the legacy of Tansen, one of India's greatest musicians, and highlights the cultural richness of the city of Gwalior, known as the music city.