Gudi Padwa

Why in news?

• Recently, Gudi Padwa was celebrated on the first day of the month of Chaitra, which synchronises with the first day of the new moon.

About the Gudi Padwa

• It is a spring festival celebrated predominantly in Maharashtra and Goa, marking the start of the new year for Marathi and Konkani Hindus.
• It falls on the first day of the Chaitra month in the Hindu calendar, is a vibrant celebration filled with rituals, festivities, and a sense of community.
• The term ‘Gudi Padwa’ is derived from two words – ‘Gudi’ which means flag, and ‘Padwa’ which represents the first day of the lunar fortnight.
• A Gudi is hoisted on this day, giving the festival its name.

Significance

• Gudi Padwa signifies the arrival of spring and the reaping of Rabi crops.
• It is believed that on this day, Lord Brahma created the universe.
• It marks the beginning of the harvest season in Maharashtra.
• It promotes the traditional arts, as the making of the Gudi and the drawing of rangoli require creativity and artistic skills.

Ural River

Why in news?

• Recently, Russia declared an emergency in the Orenburg region near Kazakhstan after the Ural River (Europe’s third longest river) burst through a dam embankment in the city of Orsk.

About the Ural River

• It originates in the southern Ural Mountains.
• It embarks on a journey of 2,428 kilometres, making it the third-longest river in Europe after the Volga and the Danube.
• It flows south along the eastern flank of the Ural Mountains, passing through cities like Magnitogorsk. At Orsk, it cuts westward across the southern end of the Urals, past Orenburg, and turns south again across a lowland of semi-desert to enter the Caspian Sea at Atyraū.
• It is historically known as the Yaik, is a significant geographical feature that courses through Russia and Kazakhstan.
• It serves as a natural boundary between Europe and Asia, marking it as a geographical landmark of immense importance.

Economic Importance

• The Ural River provides a natural waterway that supports trade and transportation.
• The river is navigable up to the city of Oral in Kazakhstan.
• Furthermore, a dam and hydroelectric station have been built at Iriklinsky, south of Magnitogorsk, harnessing the river’s power for energy production.