Current Affairs - Festivity

The Sci-Fi Science Film Festival of India was inaugurated by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in Panaji on January 30, 2025. The festival, organized by Vidnyan Parishad Goa, focuses on science, innovation, and curiosity, with the theme “Green Revolution” this year. It also honours Dr. M. Swaminathan, a renowned scientist. The event serves as a platform to inspire young minds and encourage participation in scientific endeavours. The festival lasts for four days and emphasizes the importance of science for India’s progress while promoting sustainability and curiosity among the youth.

The Nagoba Jatara, a major tribal festival, is celebrated annually in the village of Keslapur in Indervelli mandal. This seven-day-long event is dedicated to the Nagoba temple and is a significant religious and cultural gathering for the Mesram clan and other aboriginal tribes. The festival attracts devotees from Telangana, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha. Along with religious rituals, the Jatara also features cultural performances, a bustling market, and various social activities, making it one of the largest tribal gatherings in India.

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, hosted the inaugural International Pashmina Festival, organized by the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries. The festival, held over three days, showcased over 150 domestic stalls, with 40 dedicated to pure Nepali Pashmina. The event highlighted the traditional craftsmanship behind the iconic Pashmina fabric, especially the superior quality "Chyangra Pashmina." It also underscored Nepal's global recognition as a leading producer of this exquisite, hand-woven textile made from the undercoat of Chyangra goats.

Nepal hosted the 1st International Pashmina Festival, a 3-day event featuring over 150 stalls and promoting its "Chyangra Pashmina," known for its traditional craftsmanship and use of natural dyes. Nepali Pashmina holds a prominent position in global markets such as the US, Japan, and Europe. The festival aims to address challenges like raw material shortages through policy reforms. While India also produces high-quality Pashmina in regions like Ladakh and Kashmir, the market faces competition from blended and cheaper alternatives.

Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura celebrated their 53rd Statehood Day on January 21, 2025, marking their attainment of full statehood under the North Eastern Region (Reorganization) Act of 1971. Mizoram, however, is not part of this group as it became a state later, on February 20, 1987, through a separate agreement. This distinction makes Mizoram the odd one out in this context.