21 August - World Senior Citizens Day

 

World Senior Citizens Day is observed on August 21st each year. This day is dedicated to honoring and appreciating the contributions of older adults to society and recognizing the challenges and issues they may face. It's a time to highlight the importance of providing support, care, and respect to senior citizens and to raise awareness about their rights, well-being, and quality of life.

World Senior Citizens Day serves as a reminder to show gratitude to older individuals for their wisdom, experience, and the positive impact they have on families, communities, and societies as a whole. It's an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and promote inclusivity and respect for people of all ages.

21 August - Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar death anniversary

 

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (19 October 1910 – 21 August 1995) was an Indian-American astrophysicist who spent his professional life in the United States. He was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize for Physics with William A. Fowler for "...theoretical studies of the physical processes of importance to the structure and evolution of the stars and black holes.The Chandrasekhar limit is named after him.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subrahmanyan_Chandrasekhar

 

21 August - The Pueblo Revolt

 

The Pueblo Revolt, also known as Popé's Rebellion, was a significant uprising of Pueblo Native Americans against Spanish colonial rule in what is now the southwestern United States. Here are more details about this historical event:

Date: The Pueblo Revolt began on August 10, 1680, and culminated on August 21, 1680.

Background: In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Spanish explorers and settlers established colonies in present-day New Mexico. The Spanish imposed their culture, religion (Christianity), and governance on the Pueblo people, which led to tensions and resistance.

Leader: The rebellion was led by a Pueblo religious leader named Popé (also spelled as Po'pay or Po'Pay). He was from San Juan Pueblo and had experienced the negative effects of Spanish rule on Pueblo culture and traditions.

Causes: The Pueblo people faced oppression, forced labor, and the suppression of their traditional religious practices by the Spanish authorities. The imposition of Spanish culture and the suppression of Pueblo cultural elements fueled resentment and anger among the indigenous population.

Revolt: Popé organized a coordinated uprising among various Pueblo communities, uniting them against the Spanish. On August 10, 1680, Pueblo messengers delivered knotted cords, known as "knot records," to signal the time for the rebellion. The Puebloans launched a surprise attack on the Spanish settlements, killing priests, settlers, and soldiers.

Outcome: The Pueblo Revolt was successful in driving the Spanish out of the region. The Pueblo people expelled the Spanish settlers from Santa Fe and other settlements, effectively reclaiming their land and freedom. The revolt resulted in the destruction of churches and symbols of Spanish rule.

Aftermath: The Pueblo Revolt had a lasting impact. The Spanish eventually returned to the region in 1692 and regained control of New Mexico, but they adopted a more tolerant approach to Pueblo culture and traditions. The Spanish recognized the importance of allowing greater religious and cultural autonomy for the Pueblo people.

Legacy: The Pueblo Revolt remains a significant event in Native American and colonial history. It is often seen as a successful indigenous resistance movement against colonial oppression and cultural assimilation.

The Pueblo Revolt stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Pueblo people to defend their way of life and regain control over their ancestral lands.

21 August - Nag Panchami 2023

Naga Panchami is a day of traditional worship of Nagas or snakes observed by Hindus throughout India, Nepal, and other countries where Hindu adherents live.The worship is offered on the fifth day of bright half of lunar month of Shravana (July/August), according to the Hindu calendar. Some Indian states, such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, celebrate Naga Panchami on the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the same month.As part of the festivities, a Naga or serpent deity made of silver, stone, wood, or a painting of snakes is given a reverential bath with milk and their blessings are sought for the welfare of the family.Live snakes, especially cobras, are also worshipped on this day, especially with offerings of milk and generally with the assistance of a snake charmer.

In the Mahabharata epic, the sage Astika's quest to stop the sacrifice of serpents (Sarpa Satra) of King Janamejaya, is well known, as it was during this sacrifice that the Mahabharata as a whole was first narrated by the sage, Vaisampayana.This yagna sacrifice was performed by Janamejaya to decimate the race of Nagas through killing every snake in existence to avenge the death of his father Parikshita due to the deadly bite of Takshaka, the king of the snakes. The day that the sacrifice was stopped, due to the intervention of the Astika, was on the Shukla Paksha Panchami day in the month of Shravana. That day has since been observed as Naga Panchami.

Worship:

On day of Naga Panchami, Nagas, cobras, and snakes are worshipped with milk, sweets, flowers, lamps, and even sacrifices. Naga or serpent deities made of silver, stone, wood, or paintings on the wall are first bathed with water and milk and then worshipped with the reciting of the following mantras

Devnagri :

नाग प्रीता भवन्ति शान्तिमाप्नोति बिअ विबोह्
सशन्ति लोक मा साध्य मोदते सस्थित समः

English:

Naga preeta bhavanti shantimapnoti via viboh
Sashanti lok ma sadhya modate shashttih samh

Translation:


Let all be blessed by the snake goddess, let everyone obtain peaceLet all live peacefully without any turbulence.