In News:

The Behdeinkhlam Festival, a vibrant cultural and religious celebration of the Pnar community in Jowai, Meghalaya, was recently observed with great enthusiasm. Blending age-old indigenous rituals with contemporary social messages, the festival reflects the rich cultural heritage and evolving societal concerns of the Jaintia Hills region.

Etymology and Meaning

• The term “Behdeinkhlam” comes from the Pnar language:
  • “Beh Dien” – to drive away with sticks or prayers.
  • “Khlam” – refers to plague, pestilence, or disease.
• Thus, the name signifies a ritual expulsion of illness, evil spirits, and misfortune, historically associated with diseases like cholera.

Cultural and Religious Significance

• Primarily celebrated by the Pnars, a sub-tribe of the Jaintia community, the festival is a symbolic act of:
  • Protecting society from disease.
  • Invoking blessings for a bountiful harvest.
  • Promoting community health, peace, and prosperity.
• It plays a crucial role in preserving the Niamtre faith, the indigenous religion of the Jaintia people, through intergenerational participation in ritual practices.

Timing and Duration

• Held annually in July, right after the sowing season, the festival lasts for three days.
• The timing is agriculturally significant, linking health rituals with hopes for a successful farming cycle.

Key Rituals and Celebrations

• Symbolic Rituals:
  • Men go around beating the roofs of houses with bamboo poles to drive away evil spirits and symbolic disease.
  • Tree trunks known as Dein Khlam and Khnong—rounded, straight, and polished—are brought from the forest and used in the main rituals.
• Community Processions:
  • A sacred wooden post called Symbud Khnong is carried around the town and installed as a spiritual safeguard.
• Gender Roles in Rituals:
  • Men perform dances, carry the sacred logs, and lead the processions.
  • Women play a vital ceremonial role by preparing sacrificial food for ancestral spirits.
• Dance and Music: On the final day, the community gathers at Aitnar, where both young and old dance to the rhythmic beats of pipes and drums.
• Dad-Lawakor – Traditional Game: A unique football-like game called Dad-lawakor is played at Mynthong, showcasing indigenous sporting traditions and community bonding.

Contemporary Relevance

• In recent years, the festival has evolved to incorporate modern themes such as:
  • Awareness against drug abuse
  • Prevention of alcoholism
  • Climate change consciousness
• These additions reflect a harmonious blending of tradition and modernity, where festivals serve both spiritual and civic functions.

In News:

In a landmark achievement for global environmental conservation, Sierra Leone has secured its first UNESCO World Heritage Site with the inscription of the Gola-Tiwai Complex, comprising the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary and the Gola Rainforest National Park (GRNP). This milestone is the result of over three decades of environmental activism led by Tommy Garnett, founder of the Environmental Foundation for Africa (EFA).

About the Gola-Tiwai World Heritage Site

Location

• Southern Sierra Leone, along the Moa River, near the Liberia border.

Components

1. Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary
   • Area: Only 12 sq. km
   • Biodiversity: Home to 11 primate species, including:
     • Western Chimpanzee (endangered)
     • Diana Monkey
     • *King Colobus Monkey
   • Serves as a biodiversity research hub and ecotourism destination in West Africa.
2. Gola Rainforest National Park
   • Sierra Leone’s largest tropical rainforest
   • Biodiversity Highlights:
     • Pygmy Hippopotamus
     • Critically Endangered African Forest Elephant
     • Numerous bird, insect, and plant species
   • Provides critical services such as:
     • Carbon sequestration
     • Climate regulation
     • Genetic biodiversity conservation

Ecological and Global Significance

• Biodiversity Hotspot: The Gola-Tiwai complex is one of the most biologically diverse areas in West Africa.
• Sustainable Development Model:
  • Combines community engagement, scientific research, and eco-tourism.
  • Sets a precedent for post-conflict environmental restoration.
• Global Climate Importance: The rainforest acts as a carbon sink, playing a role in mitigating climate change.
• Cultural-Ecological Linkages: Local communities depend on forests for livelihoods, traditions, and spiritual practices.

Geographical Context: Sierra Leone

Capital: Freetown

• Located on a peninsula with one of the world’s largest natural harbours.

Neighbouring Countries: Guinea (North and East), Liberia (Southeast), Atlantic Ocean (Southwest)

Key Geographical Features:

• Mountains:
  • Mount Bintimani (Loma Mansa) – Highest peak at 1,948 m (6,391 ft)
  • Tingi Hills, Sula Plateau, Kambui Schists
• Rivers:
  • Major rivers: Moa, Sewa, Mano, Rokel
  • Originate in Fouta Djallon highlands in Guinea
• Coastal Plains: Include mangrove swamps, lateritic soils, and seasonally flooded Bolilands
• Climate: Tropical with high rainfall and Harmattan winds in dry seasons

Natural Resources:

• Rich in diamonds, gold, rutile, and bauxite
• Economy based on mining and agriculture

In News:

Recently, rare noctilucent clouds were sighted over parts of Scotland, drawing attention due to their unique shimmering appearance in the night sky. These occurrences are significant in the context of climate studies and upper atmospheric science.

What are Noctilucent Clouds?

• Definition: Noctilucent clouds (NLCs), also known as polar mesospheric clouds, are high-altitude ice crystal clouds that appear thin, wispy, and glow with a blue or silvery hue after sunset.
• Etymology: The term “noctilucent” is derived from Latin—"nocto" (night) and "lucent" (shining)—meaning "night shining."

Atmospheric Location

• These are the highest clouds in Earth’s atmosphere, found in the mesosphere, around 76–85 km above the Earth's surface.
• In contrast, most other cloud types form in the troposphere, the lowest atmospheric layer.

Seasonal and Geographical Occurrence

• Seasonality:
  • Northern Hemisphere: Visible from late May to early August, peaking during June and July.
  • Southern Hemisphere: Much rarer; may appear from late November to early February, most commonly in December and January.
• Latitude Range: Typically occur between 45° and 80° latitude, both north and south of the equator.
• Visibility Conditions:
  • Seen only during summer months, shortly after sunset or just before sunrise.
  • The Sun remains just below the horizon, illuminating these high clouds from below, creating a glowing effect while the lower atmosphere is in darkness.

Formation Mechanism

• Composition: Made up of tiny ice crystals.
• Temperature Conditions: The mesosphere becomes extremely cold during summer, enabling the formation of ice on fine particles.
• Sources of Dust Nuclei:
  • Natural: Micrometeorites, volcanic dust.
  • Anthropogenic: Rocket exhaust particles and other upper-atmospheric pollutants.
• Optical Phenomenon: These ice crystals reflect sunlight even when the lower atmosphere is dark, giving them their luminous appearance.

Significance

• Serve as indicators of mesospheric conditions, especially temperature and humidity.
• Their increasing frequency and intensity in recent decades may be linked to climate change and human activities, including space exploration.
• Valuable for understanding upper atmospheric dynamics, particularly in the context of atmospheric chemistry and space weather.

In News:

The Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has recently inaugurated the 75th Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra (PMDK) at the Government Medical College, Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant milestone in India's efforts toward inclusive social welfare.

About PMDK

The Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra (PMDK) is a flagship initiative of the Government of India aimed at delivering integrated rehabilitation and assistive services under one roof. It caters primarily to:

• Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), as identified under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
• Senior Citizens, especially those from economically weaker sections (EWS).

These centres offer comprehensive services including:

• Assessment and evaluation
• Counselling
• Distribution of assistive devices
• Post-distribution follow-up care

Institutional Framework

PMDKs operate under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, and are implemented by the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), a Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).

Schemes Implemented through PMDKs

• Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP Scheme): Aims to assist Divyangjan with suitable, durable, and scientifically manufactured aids and appliances.
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): Focuses on providing free-of-cost assistive devices to senior citizens from BPL or economically weaker backgrounds.

Beneficiary-Oriented Impact

• With the inauguration of the latest centre in Badaun, the total number of operational PMDKs in the country has reached 75.
• These centres have collectively benefited over 1.4 lakh individuals, distributing assistive devices worth ?179.15 lakh.
• Devices offered include:
  • Tricycles, wheelchairs, walkers
  • Hearing aids and artificial limbs
  • Other mobility and sensory support equipment

Significance and Relevance

The PMDK initiative plays a crucial role in addressing the accessibility gap in health and welfare services for Divyangjan and elderly citizens. By establishing these centres at regional medical hubs, the government is:

• Reducing the travel burden and logistical challenges for beneficiaries.
• Ensuring dignified, timely, and localised support.
• Strengthening the implementation of constitutional and legal mandates under Articles 41 and 46, which call for state support to the vulnerable sections of society.

In News:

Located at the confluence of the Krishna River and the Bay of Bengal, Machilipatnam—historically known as Masulipatnam—is a port town with a rich maritime legacy. Once a prominent node in ancient and medieval trade networks, the town is now experiencing renewed attention and developmental revival.

Ancient Maritime Significance

• Known in classical sources such as the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century CE) as Maisolos, Machilipatnam played a crucial role in early Indian Ocean trade.
• Its strategic position on the Coromandel Coast made it a conduit for commercial exchange between the Deccan Plateau and distant civilizations, including Rome, the Arab world, and Southeast Asia.
• Archaeological and literary evidence points to Machilipatnam's role as a trans-shipment point for goods like spices, textiles, and pearls.

Flourishing Under the Satavahanas (1st BCE – 3rd CE)

• During the reign of the Satavahana dynasty, the port witnessed significant expansion.
• It became renowned for the export of fine muslin fabrics, precious stones, and aromatic goods.
• Inland trade links with Amaravati and Dharanikota—important urban and Buddhist centres—further enhanced the port’s economic significance.

Medieval Resurgence and Colonial Trade

• From the 16th to 18th centuries, the port was revitalized under the Golconda Sultanate.
• It emerged as a hub for European maritime powers such as the Dutch, British, and French East India Companies.
• Despite its early importance, Machilipatnam’s influence declined in the 18th century when colonial powers shifted their focus to Madras (now Chennai), which offered better access and facilities for long-distance trade.

Port Cities in Indian Maritime History

The historical prominence of Machilipatnam can be viewed in the broader context of ancient Indian port cities:

These ports collectively illustrate India’s extensive maritime interactions across time, with Machilipatnam serving as a significant node in this network during multiple historical phases.

Contemporary Relevance

• Recent efforts to revitalize Machilipatnam’s port infrastructure are aimed at restoring its economic utility and cultural relevance.
• Its historical importance makes it a potential candidate for heritage tourism, as well as a case study in urban renewal based on historical identity.