The Indian prime minister recently inaugurated “Aadi Mahotsav”, a two-week-long tribal festival in New Delhi. Organized annually by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Limited (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, it celebrates tribal culture, crafts, cuisine, commerce, and traditional art.
Aadi Mahotsav: A Celebration of Tribal Culture
Established in 1987 under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, TRIFED is a national cooperative body charged with promoting the socio-economic development of India’s tribal communities. The Aadi Mahotsav festival is part of this mandate, aiming to showcase and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of these communities through exhibitions of their unique art forms, traditional crafts, and exotic cuisines.
Sighting of the Snow Leopard in Pithoragarh District
For the first time ever, a snow leopard has been spotted at an elevation of about 11,120 feet in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district. Dubbed as the “Ghost of Mountains”, these elusive creatures serve as indicators of the health of the mountain ecosystem due to their position as top predators. The snow leopard’s conservation status is currently listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. They are also protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
International Engineering and Technology Fair (IETF) 2023
The President of India recently inaugurated the International Engineering and Technology Fair (IETF) 2023 in New Delhi. Serving as a platform for international conferences, seminars, business networking, technology assessments, and strategic partnerships, the IETF is attended by visitors from across the globe. This event celebrates not only India’s growth in the engineering and manufacturing sector but also the nation’s collaboration with the best from around the world in advanced technologies.
Exercise Dharma Guardian: India-Japan Joint Military Exercise
The 4th edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian, a joint military exercise between India and Japan, is being conducted in Japan from February 17 to March 2, 2023. This annual training event is significant for the security challenges faced by both nations, enhancing their level of defence cooperation. Other military exercises between these two countries include JIMEX (naval), SHINYUU Maitri (Air Force), and Exercise Veer Guardian.
