We are burning in the torrid heatwave of summer in at least one of the hemispheres of the world. While that also means sunny and beachy vibes, summer sports, dips in the swimming pool, cool and refreshing milkshakes, and ice cream, we had a few, not so sultry, pleasant days in March. The third month in the Gregorian calendar year of 2024 brought us several alternate periods of windy but bright and sunny weather, slowly building up into the current hot spells. The story was, however, quite different in the lower half of the world.

The vibes of March were cool and hot at the same time, balanced by the Spring/Vernal EquiNox in the Northern Hemisphere and the Autumn EquiNox in the Southern Hemisphere, bringing us an equally spread-out day and night on both halves of the planet. Falling on March 20, 2024, the day unionized our spirits and equalized our blessings worldwide, with the warm rays of the Sun stationed directly above the Equator, announcing transitions into warmer climates in one half of the world and colder climates in the other. I hope our readers made merry in their own ways and gleefully embraced the transformation of the season.

Numerous festivals were celebrated throughout March. Some of those were:

Las Fallas - Friday, March 1 to Tuesday, March 19 - Spain

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Journalist - Kyra

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World Wildlife Day - Sunday, March 3 - Worldwide

March 20, 2024

World Wildlife Day is all about raising awareness of wild flora and fauna and their conservation among people across the world. Just like the diverse ethnicities and cultures of human beings, the Earth is inhabited by multiple, diverse life forms, of which some are plants, some are animals, and some are neither. In fact, humans are largely outnumbered by other living organisms, both useful and harmful. Life exists in the most unusual and unexpected of places, such as hot springs and geysers or underwater on the sea bed. World Wildlife Day aims to celebrate the very essence of life, highlighting the beauty of the myriad ways in which an organism can survive on Earth. This is also a chance to educate oneself about the various species of organisms that exist on our planet and learn about possible steps that can be taken to protect and conserve them. Those that are born of Mother Nature's blessings, as are human beings, are a boon to mankind in general. They must be taken care of, as they support human life and help keep the balance of the ecosystem in their own unique ways. Unity in biodiversity can turn out to be as magical as unity in diversity when it comes to progress, as long as one of the species doesn't attempt to monopolize survival, overthrowing the balance of nature. As human beings with the power to think far more than any other creature, bestowed upon us by Mother Earth, it is part of our duty to take care of the other living organisms on the planet and help them flourish, while they help mankind grow by providing our basic needs. Nurturing the life forms that inhabit the planet we live on is essential to our long-term existence in the ecosystem that we belong to. World Wildlife Day is for animal lovers, plant enthusiasts, those passionate about climatic changes, and anyone who loves the Earth to celebrate and use the occasion as an opportunity to get out there and explore, help enrich, and spread awareness about the huge range of miraculous flora and fauna that the world has to offer.

Journalist - Hiya Debnath

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World Hearing Day - Sunday, March 3 - Worldwide

March 20, 2024

World Hearing Day is a global healthcare event celebrated on March 3 every year. It was started in 2007 at the headquarters of the World Health Organization in Geneva to act as a platform for those suffering from hearing loss to unite and to promote ear and hearing care in the community. Over 5% of the world's population currently uses hearing aids or needs rehabilitation therapy to treat their hearing disability. By 2050, over 70 crore individuals—that is, about one out of every ten people—are expected to suffer from debilitating hearing loss, with about 80% of them residing in low- and middle-income nations. Hearing loss that is 'disabling' is defined as hearing loss higher than 35 decibels (dB) in the better-hearing ear. World Hearing Day is a themed celebration with different themes every year. The 2024 theme of World Hearing Day was "Changing mindsets: Let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all!". The theme emphasized the importance of spreading awareness about hearing loss and eliminating misunderstandings while aiming to collaborate between the medical research and healthcare organizations of all countries towards bringing forth change and treatment opportunities for those concerned. This also directly involves putting in place concerted regulation of various policies curbing sound pollution around the world.

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Journalist - Hiya Debnath

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Hina Matsuri - Sunday, March 3 - Japan

March 15, 2024

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In a traditional Japanese home, a delicate arrangement of ornate dolls adorns a tiered platform covered in crimson fabric. The Emperor and Empress sit regally at the top, surrounded by their attendants and musicians, all dressed in exquisite silk robes of vibrant colours. Cherry blossoms, their delicate petals fluttering in the gentle breeze, frame the display, infusing the room with a soft, pink hue. The soothing sound of a koto, its strings plucked with precision, fills the air, adding to the tranquil atmosphere. It's a moment frozen in time, a snapshot of tradition and beauty, as the family gathers to celebrate Hina Matsuri and the cherished young girls in their midst.

Hina Matsuri, also known as the Doll Festival or Girls' Day, is a traditional Japanese celebration held on 3rd March each year. It is a day dedicated to the well-being and happiness of young girls in the family.

The significance of Hina Matsuri lies in its celebration of family, tradition, and the hope for the well-being and happiness of young girls. It's a time to appreciate the cultural heritage of Japan and to cherish the bonds between family members.

During Hina Matsuri, families display a set of ornamental dolls called "hina ningyo" on a tiered platform covered with red fabric. These dolls represent the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians dressed in traditional Heian period attire. The arrangement symbolises a royal court from the Heian period.

Families also offer special foods and sweets like chirashi-zushi (scattered sushi), hishimochi (diamond-shaped rice cakes), and hina-arare (colourful rice crackers) as offerings on this day. Peach blossoms are often used to decorate the display, as they symbolise longevity and good health.

The festival is celebrated with various customs, including praying for the happiness and prosperity of young girls, often by visiting shrines or temples. It's also common for families to invite friends and relatives over for special meals and gatherings.

Journalist - Vaella Targaryen

Edited by - Hiya Debnath

Proof-read by - Kyra

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International Women's Day - Friday, March 8 - Worldwide

March 9, 2024

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Ramadan - Evening of Monday, March 11 to Wednesday, April 10 - Worldwide by Muslims

March 20, 2024

Ramadan is a festival celebrated by followers of the Islamic religion. It begins and ends with the appearance of the Crescent Moon, falls in the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, and is synonymous with the holy month of fasting. The Muslim calendar year being shorter than the Gregorian calendar year, Ramadan shifts to 10–12 days earlier each year, allowing it to fall in every season once during a 33-year cycle. According to Islamic tradition, God revealed the Qurʾān, Islam’s holy book, "as a guidance for the people" to the Prophet Muhammad on one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, usually the 27th night, commemorated as the "Night of Power" (Laylat al-Qadr). It is believed that God forgives the past sins of those who observe the holy month with fasting, prayer, and faithful intention. Ramadan is a period of introspection, communal prayer (ṣalāt) in the mosque, and reading of the Qurʾān. During this period, Muslims practice ṣawm (Arabic: "to refrain"), one of the pillars of Islam (the five basic tenets of the Muslim religion). Although ṣawm is most commonly associated with the obligatory practice of fasting during Ramadan, it is more broadly interpreted as the obligation to refrain from all forms of immoral behavior, including impure or unkind thoughts, false words, and bad deeds or intentions, besides not consuming any food from dusk to dawn and avoiding drink and sexual activity. The fast is broken every evening after the sunset prayer with a meal called ifṭār that is often shared among friends and extended family. Muslims gather in homes or mosques for ifṭār, which usually begins with dates, as was the custom of Muhammad, or apricots, and water or sweetened milk. Additional prayers, called the tawarīḥ prayers, are offered at night in the mosque.

Journalist - Hiya Debnath

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St. Patrick's Day - Sunday, March 17 - Ireland

March 21, 2024

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Holi - Monday, March 25 - India

March 21, 2024

Holi is the Spring Festival of the Hindus in India and Nepal, celebrated on the Full Moon day in the Bengali calendar month of Phalguna (spanning February–March). It is known worldwide as the festival of colors. Revelers "play Holi" during this festival, that is, playfully throw colored water from waterguns called "pichkaris" and colored powder (also known as "gulal") at each other to celebrate. Traditionally, these colors were derived from plants: green from neem and henna leaves; yellow from turmeric and marigold; blue from indigo; and red from pomegranates, flame of the forest (Butea monosperma), and red sandalwood. These colors were traditionally meant to promote health and cleanse the skin. In modern times, synthetic colors with brighter hues that may contain a varied range of toxic chemicals, potentially hazardous dyes, or metal-based pigments are being used. These are preferred because they are cheaper and easier to find in the market. However, these synthetic colors can cause irritation and burning of the eyes and skin and have thus become a major concern for people in India. To prevent this issue, some people have resorted to using herbal colors instead. Other popular parts of the festival include community gatherings, music, and food. Some popular foods and drinks that people relish during the festival of Holi are gujiya, a deep-fried dumpling or pastry filled with coconut and dried fruits; jalebi, a spiral-shaped dessert that is deep-fried and soaked in sugar syrup; and malpua, or Indian pancakes. In the state of Maharashtra in India, puran poli, a sweet flatbread made of wheat flour, chickpeas, and jaggery, is more popular. Drinks such as lassi and thandai (a sweet, cold milk drink topped with almonds, saffron, poppy seeds, cardamom, and rose petals) are also often served during the celebrations. Holi has its traditional roots in a tale from the Hindu religious text, Atharvaveda. The tale states that Prahlad, the religious son of the demon Hiranyakashipu, was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, inciting his demon father to make multiple attempts to stop Prahlad from worshipping the deity. When all the attempts at dissuading Prahlad from his devotion failed, Hiranyakashipu asked his demon sister Holika, who was immune to fire, to burn Prahlad to death by sitting on a burning pyre with Prahlad on her lap. To his utmost surprise, Holika was burned to ashes because of her evil intentions, and Prahlad was the one who came out unscathed. To commemorate this, Hindus burn a huge pyre of firewood in a ceremony called "Holika Dahan", literally "the burning of Holika", on the evening preceding the main day of Holi celebrations. Lord Krishna and his consort Radha are also worshipped and playfully smeared with colors during this festival. Lord Krishna and Radha traditionally represent the concepts of love and fertility in India.

Journalist - Hiya Debnath

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Easter - Sunday, March 31 - Worldwide by Christians

March 21, 2024

Easter is a principal holiday for the members of the Christian church, which is celebrated to commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The earliest Easter celebration was recorded in the 2nd century, though the ritual of felicitating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ probably started earlier. The English word "Easter" is of uncertain origin but is known to be directly linked to the German word "Ostern". Some sources say that it is derived from "Eostre" or "Eostrae", the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. However, the prevalent modern belief states that the etymology of the term is "in albis", a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba ("dawn"), the Christian designation of Easter Week. Easter follows the 40-day period of Lent in the Christian calendar and is immediately preceded by Holy Week, including Good Friday (the day of the Crucifixion).The traditions associated with Easter vary across regions. One distinctive observance is the Easter Sunrise Service by Protestants in North America, which takes place as the Sun rises to dispel the darkness. Most rituals associated with Easter are actually folk customs that have little to do with the Christian commemoration of the Resurrection. The Easter lamb was a sacrificial animal in ancient Israel as well as an apellation for Jesus in the Scriptures. Lamb meat, following its offering and blessing at the altar, is eaten on Easter. The Lenten fast is traditionally broken on Easter with a feast of eggs, ham, cheeses, bread, and sweets that have been blessed for the occasion. Since the 13th century, the custom of decorated, colorful Easter eggs has become prevalent, as the church prohibited eating eggs during the Holy Week, but chickens continued to lay eggs, which were then identified as "Holy Week" eggs and decorated, and slowly became the symbol of the Resurrection thereafter. In the Orthodox manner of decoration, these eggs were painted red to symbolize the red blood that was shed by Jesus on the Cross. Since eggs and rabbits are both symbols of rebirth and fertility, the idea of an Easter bunny alongside Easter eggs became gradually popular all over the world, though rabbits don't actually lay eggs.

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We hope March was a gala month full of festivities for all of our beloved readers.

Sources: -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-wildlife-day/

https://www.pacehospital.com/world-hearing-day#:~:text=This%20year%202024%2C%20World%20Hearing,public%20and%20primary%20healthcare%20providers.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramadan

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Holi

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Easter-holiday

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Las-Posadas

Image Sources: -

https://www.alamy.com/hina-ningyo-doll-display-set-up-for-girl-s-day-holiday-on-march-3rd-image4287944.html

https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/easter-egg