WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR

The last Sun of the year sets amidst omicrons and now we are entering into 2022 amid a pandemic. So don't think more about this. Let's celebrate the new year with new knowledge. Each one celebrates the happy new year but very few of them know about the calendar. Do you know? The word calendar came from the Roman word ' calends' or ' kalends' meaning a way of allocating time into certain periods adopted for the purpose of civil life. CALENDAR help you visualize your daily schedule and remind you of important events. What if there was no calendar? Think 🤔 about it.

The Saka Era marked the beginning of the Saka Samvat, a historic Hindu calendar that was later introduced as the ‘Indian National Calendar’ in 1957. The Saka Era is believed to was founded by King Shalivanhana of the Shatavahana dynasty. The Saka calendar consists of 365 days and 12 months which is similar to the structure of the Gregorian Calendar. The first month of the Saka Samvat is Chaitra which begins on March 22 which corresponds with March 21 during the leap year.

Saka Samvat	Gregorian Calender
Chaitra	March 21 – April 20
Vaishakha	April 21-May 21
Jyeshtha	May 22-June 21
Ashadha	June 22- July 22
Shravana	July 23-AugustBhadr
Bhandra	August 22-September 22
Ashwin	September 23-October 22
Kartika	October 23-November 21
Agrahayana	November 22-December 21
Pausha	December 22-January 20
Magha	January 21- February 19
Phalguna	February 20-March 20/21

Facts about National Calendar of India / Saka Calendar

1. It is a historical calendar era corresponding Julian's year 78.
2. It is also known as Shalivahana Saka era or Mahasakkarat Era.
3. Saka era marks the remembrance of King Shalivahana’s chief military triumphs.
4. The first indication of a relationship between King Shalivahana and the Saka era was authenticated by the Kannada work Udbhatakavya by Somaraja.
5. The Saka calendar is used also by the Indonesian Hindus in Bali and Java.
6. The Gazette of India uses this calendar along with the Gregorian Calendar.

VIKRAM SAMVAT

The Vikram Samvat also regarded as the Vikrami calendar is a historical calendar for the Hindus in India. Vikram Samvat is also the official calendar of Nepal and is named after king Vikramaditya. This calendar came into focus after the 9th century with the beginning of epigraphical artwork. Before the 9th century, the same calendar system was known with other names such as Krita and Malava.

Some of the unique features of the Vikrami calendar are mentioned below:

1. It marks the beginning of the Vikrama era that prevailed in India and Nepal.
2. The period is named after King Vikramaditya to mark his triumph over the Saka rulers.
3. It started at 57 B.C. before the 9th century with Vikramaditya.
4. This is a calendar based on the movement of the moon and has 354 days in a year.
5. The Vikram Samvat has 12 months with each month divided into two phases:

• Shukla paksha (15 days) – begins with the new moon and ends with a full moon
• Krishna paksha (15 days) – begins with a full moon and ends with the new moon

Division of a year in Vikram Samvat

The first day of the Vikram Samvat calendar is celebrated after Diwali in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Vikram Samvat is similar in design to the Gregorian calendar and has been used by the Hindus and the Sikhs. This calendar system is one of the lunisolar calendars developed by ancient human cultures. It uses the lunar months and solar sidereal years for the division of a year.

The 12 months of Vikram Samvat that correspond to the 12 months of the Gregorian Calendar are mentioned in the table below:

Vikram Samvat	Gregorian Calendar
Baishakh	April-May
Jestha	May-June
Ashadh	June-July
Shrawan	July-August
Bhadra	August-September
Ashwin	September-October
Kartik	October-November
Mangsir	November-December
Poush	December-January
Magh	January-February
Falgun	February-March
Chaitra	March-April

Hijri/Hijra calendar

The Hijri calendar is an Islamic lunar calendar consist of 12 lunar months and 354/355 days. The Hijri calendar is used to determine the Islamic holidays and rituals such as the annual period of fasting and the pilgrimage time to Mecca.

Some of the important facts about the Hijri calendar are mentioned below:

1. The Islamic year began in AD 622 during which the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijra happened.
2. The Islamic year has 12 months that are grounded on a lunar cycle.
3. It has 354 days.
4. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries simultaneously with the Gregorian calendar.
5. Muslims everywhere in the World use this calendar to decide the proper days on which to observe Ramadan, to attend Hajj, and to celebrate other Islamic festivals.
6. There are 12 months in the Hijri calendar which are mentioned below:
   • Muharram
   • Safar
   • Rabia Awal
   • Rabia Thani
   • Jumaada Awal
   • Jumaada Thani
   • Rajab
   • Sha’ban
   • Ramadan
   • Shawwal
   • Dhul-Qi’dah
   • Dhul-Hijjah

Gregorian Calendar

The Gregorian calendar which was developed as a correction to the Julian Calendar was introduced in October 1582. This calendar is named after Pope Gregory XIII and is the most used calendar in the world. This calendar determines the Earth’s revolution around the Sun and spaces leap years to make the average year 365.2425 days long.

Some of the unique features of the Gregorian calendar are:

1. The Gregorian calendar is used as the civil calendar. 
2. It began to be used from  1582.
3. It is named after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced the calendar.
4. It substituted the earlier Julian calendar because the Julian calendar had a miscalculation regarding leap year.
5. The Julian year had 365.25 days.
6. The Gregorian calendar sustained to employ the Julian months.
   • January
   • February
   • March
   • April
   • May
   • June
   • July
   • August
   • September
   • October
   • November
   • December

DEEPAWALI

We all know that  Deepawali is celebrated in the month of Kartik and it symbolizes the victory over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, and also  Deepawali originates from Sanskrit words deep( lamp) and vali( row). It means " row of light". This festival is celebrated by lighting earthen lamps but very few know why we celebrate Deepawali?

We don't celebrate Diwali just to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. Here are 11 other reasons why the festival of lights is celebrated.

Diwali or Deepawali is the festival of lights celebrated across the country. The festival of lights which is celebrated in the month of Kartik usually lasts five days, starting from Dhanteras, followed by Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali), Lakshmi Pujan (Badi Diwali), Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj

Rama's return to Ayodhya after Ravana's defeat

According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, Lord Rama, his brother Laxmana and wife Sita returned to Ayodhya after a period of 14 years in exile after defeating demon king Ravana.

Krishna killed Narakasura

In Dwapara yuga, Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, killed demon Narakasura, the evil king of Pragjyotishapura, near present-day Assam, who had held 16,000 girls in captivity. In Braj region in northern India, parts of Assam, as well as southern Tamil and Telugu communities, Narak Chaturdashi is viewed as the day on which Krishna killed Narakasura.

Pandava's return to Hastinapur

The five Pandava brothers had been tricked into losing a bet in gambling after which their Kaurava cousins banished them for 12 years. The Pandavas returned to Hastinapur on Kartik Amavasya, as per the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Goddess Lakshmi's birth

As per another popular tradition, Diwali is celebrated as the day Goddess Lakshmi was born from Samudra Amntham, the churning of the cosmic ocean of milk by the gods and demons. On the night of Diwali, Lakshmi chose Vishnu as her husband and married him.

Vishnu rescued Lakshmi

It is believed that Lord Vishnu, in his fifth Vaman-avatar, rescued Goddess Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali. On this day, King Bali was banished to rule the netherworld on the order of Lord Vishnu.

Bandi Chhor Diwas

In Sikhism, Diwali is related to a historic event. Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, along with 52 other Hindu kings, was released from captivity by Mughal emperor Jahangir on the day of Diwali.

Mahavira Nirvana Diwas

In Jainism, the festival of Diwali is celebrated to observe the anniversary of Nirvana of Mahavira's soul, the twenty-fourth and last Jain Tirthankara of present cosmic age. Mahavira attained moksha (liberation) on Chaturdashi of Kartik month.

Maharshi Dayananda attained Nirvana

On the new moon day of Kartik, Maharshi Dayananda, founder of Arya Samaj, attained Nirvana.

Maharaja Vikramaditya's coronation

Legendary Hindu king Vikramaditya was crowned on Diwali. He is characterised as an ideal king known for his generosity, courage and patronage of scholars.

Kali Puja

As per the Kalikula sect of Shaktism, the day of incarnation of Kamalatmika, the last manifestation of goddess Mahakali, is celebrated as Kamalatmika Jayanti. It falls on the day of Deepawali. Kali Puja is celebrated in regions of Bengal, Mithila, Odisha, Assam, Sylhet, Chittagong and the town of Titwala in Maharashtra.

End of harvest season

According to another popular belief, Diwali may have originated as a harvest festival, marking the last harvest of the year before winter.

Diwali as New Year

In western states such as Gujarat and some northern Hindu communities of India, the festival of Diwali signifies the start of a new year.

FUN FACTS

1.

only a qualified electrician is allowed to change a light bulb in Victoria, AUSTRALIA 🦘.

2.

in Florida, it is illegal to pass wind in a public places after 6pm on Thursday.

3.

Milan in Italy states that it is a legal requirement to smile at all times except during funerals or hospital visits. Frowners could face a hefty fine.

4.

It is illegal to be fat in vaapn. In 2009, lawmakers set a maximum waistline for every an aged over 40 to control obesity, although there is no penalty for the same.

5.

some people regard chewing gum as ill-mannered but in Singapore it's a criminal offence to chew gum unless it's medicinal.

6.

flushing in toilets after 10 pm is illegal in Switzerland . The government feels this act adds to noise pollution.

7.

It is illegal to run out of fuel on the Autobahn in Germany.

India at tokyo olympics 2020

For the first time in the country's history, Neeraj Chopra won an Olympic gold medalist in athletics. The dream of Milkha Singh has come true. Neeraj Chopra won gold in Men's javelin throw. India is elated after getting gold.

Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in weightlifting women's 49 kg. For India, this was the first medal in the 2020 Olympic Games. She is now becoming an inspiration for the whole of India.

Ravi Kumar dahiya won a silver medal in wrestling men's 57 kg freestyle. He is only 23 years old. His purpose was to win gold but at the last moment, he lost. Mu

Lovalina bargohain won bronze in Boxing women's welterweight. She is the third Indian boxer to win a medal at Olympics. She is the first female athlete and the second boxer from Assam to represent the state in Olympics. After winning, she said, " Sapna gold ka hai". 

Pv Sindhu won bronze in Badminton. The first woman from India to win two consecutive individual Olympic medals. It shows the extraordinary skill, determination, and grit of PV Sindhu. she is the real tiger of India. 

Indian Men's hockey team created history by winning bronze after 40 years. We knew Once upon a time, there was a hockey team that defeated every team in the world in the captainship of Major Dhyanchand. But after 1980 no one focussed on the hockey team and this led to the failure of the hockey team. But winning bronze after 40 years hockey team proved we were, we are, we will. Navin Patnaik has a significant role in this new hockey team. When no one sponsored hockey then the Odisha government sponsored it and made it a perfect hockey team. Therefore, we need to thanks the Odisha government.

Bajrang punia won bronze in wrestling men's 65 kg freestyle. He is the only Indian wrestler to win 3 medals at the world championships. 'We will take care of the injury later, remove the brace for now' Bajrang punia told the physio before winning the Olympic bronze. This determination and courage of punia made him the bronze winner.

For India, the story of the Tokyo Olympic 2020 is started from silver and ends with gold. 4 bronze, 2 silver, and 1 gold describe the historic performance of India at the Olympics. When I look at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, I think this is the evergreen performance of India yet. 

Lateral Entry

FATHER OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA.

FATHER OF GREEN REVOLUTION IN INDIA

 FATHER OF WHITE REVOLUTION IN INDIA

FATHER OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY IN INDIA

FATHER OF TELECOMMUNICATION REVOLUTION IN INDIA.

I fully support lateral entry in our established system because it leads to an increase in productivity of the country's development. The government needs to allow those who have professionally mastered the things and expert. 

As we see in the past the five biggest achievements of India which are discussed above are lead by professionals not by civil servants. Therefore, we can see the result in these five sectors. This is my opinion about the lateral entry on senior governments posts.

 What's your opinion on this?

INVENTIONS GALORE...

The Toothbrush was invented in 1498. Do give a thought to what people were using before that!

Norwegian inventor Johan valler patented his paper clip in 1899. He had to travel to Germany to receive his patent because Norway had no patent laws!

In 1938, Teflon was discovered. It's use as a non-stick coating has brought cooking pleasure to many a housewife since!

The world's first VCR made in 1956 was the size of a piano!

The eyeglass was invented by the Chinese way back in time. In fact Marco Polo reported it's use in 1275 A.D.

At the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, Richard Blechyden, an Englishman, found no takers for hot tea on a very hot day. So he served the tea cold and iced tea was born!

In the 19th Century

1879 Thomas Edison invents the incandescent lamp.

1838 The Morse code is introduced by Samuel Morse.

1853 The first jeans are made by Levi Strauss for the California gold miners!

1800 World population crosses one billion for the first time!

1848 The California gold rush begins!

1815 The first three verses of "Mary HAD A Little lamb" are written by John Roulstone after his classmate, Mary Sawyer, who came to school followed by her pet lamb.