31 March - Easter

 

Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, as described in the New Testament of the Bible. It is considered the most important event in the Christian faith and is observed by billions of Christians around the world.

Easter is typically celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox, which places it between March 22 and April 25 each year. The date varies from year to year based on the lunar calendar.

The holiday is preceded by the season of Lent, a period of 40 days of fasting, prayer, and penance, which represents the time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry.

Easter Sunday itself is marked by church services, feasting, and the exchange of Easter greetings and gifts. Many Christians also participate in Easter egg hunts and decorate eggs as a symbol of new life and rebirth. Additionally, various cultures have their own unique traditions and customs associated with Easter, such as the Easter Bunny and Easter parades.

Overall, Easter holds deep religious significance for Christians and is a time of joy, hope, and renewal as they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of salvation.

 

31 march - Gateway of India construction started in 1913

 

The Gateway of India is an arch-monument built in the early twentieth century in the city of Mumbai, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was erected to commemorate the landing in December 1911 at Apollo Bunder, Mumbai (then Bombay) of King-Emperor George V and Queen-Empress Mary, the first British monarch to visit India. At the time of the royal visit, the gateway was not yet built, and a cardboard structure greeted the monarch. The Construction started on 31 March 1913 for a monument built in the Indo-Saracenic style, incorporating elements of 16th-century Marathi architecture. The final design of the monument by architect George Wittet was sanctioned only in 1914, and construction was completed in 1924. The structure is a triumphal arch made of basalt, which is 26 metres (85 feet) high.

31 March - International Transgender Day of Visibility

 

International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is indeed observed on March 31st each year. This day is dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness about the discrimination and challenges they face globally. It also aims to highlight the contributions of transgender individuals to society and to promote acceptance, understanding, and support for the transgender community.

International Transgender Day of Visibility was first celebrated in 2009 and has since grown into an important annual event for advocacy, education, and empowerment. On this day, various activities and events may take place, including marches, rallies, educational workshops, art exhibits, and social media campaigns, all focused on promoting transgender visibility and equality.

TDOV serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for transgender rights and recognition, as well as an opportunity to celebrate the diversity and resilience of transgender individuals around the world. It plays a crucial role in fostering greater inclusivity and acceptance within communities and promoting a society where transgender people can live authentically and free from discrimination.

31 March - Cesar Chavez Day

 

Cesar Chavez Day is a commemorative holiday in several U.S. states that honors the life and achievements of Cesar Chavez, a prominent labor leader and civil rights activist. The holiday is observed on March 31st each year. Cesar Chavez was a co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW) union. He dedicated his life to advocating for better working conditions, fair wages, and rights for farmworkers, particularly those of Latino and Filipino descent, in the United States. Chavez's efforts helped bring attention to the plight of farmworkers and contributed to significant improvements in labor conditions and rights. Cesar Chavez Day serves as a tribute to his legacy and continues to inspire activism and social justice movements.

31 March - Eiffel Tower Day

 

Eiffel Tower Day is celebrated on March 31 to commemorate the inaugural anniversary of the Eiffel Tower. Unveiled to the world on this day 1889, this iconic monument has withstood the test of time and remains one of the most remarkable wonders of the world. Standing at 1,063 feet, the Eiffel Tower overlooks the city of Paris and symbolizes the triumph of modern engineering and western civilization.

Being one of the most recognizable monuments of the world, Eiffel Tower Day is a day of celebration for millions of people. From Calcutta to California, people come together to raise a toast to this architectural masterpiece.

31 March - commemorative postage stamp on Vallal Pachaiyappa in 2010

 

A commemorative postage stamp issued on (31.March.2010) the Death Anniversary of Pachaiyappa Mudaliar, the most munificent patron of learning and religion in modern south India, was born in 1754 in Periapalayam, a village about twenty five miles from Madras, where there is famous Sakthi temple.His father, Visvanatha Mudaliar, had passed away a few months before and he seemed born to destitution and misery.But by dint of unexampled commercial acumen, always regulated by honesty and fairness, he amassed a huge fortune in only forty years, when he passed away in 1794.It was with his money that the first Indian College in Madras was started and, along with it, a number of other educational institutions which keep his memory green.

31 March - René Descartes birth anniversary

 

René Descartes was born on 31 March , 1596, in La Haye en Touraine, Kingdom of France (now Descartes, Indre-et-Loire, France), and he passed away on February 11, 1650, in Stockholm, Sweden.

René Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist who is often regarded as the father of modern philosophy. His work had a profound influence on the development of Western philosophy and laid the groundwork for the scientific revolution of the 17th century. Descartes is best known for his contributions to both philosophy and mathematics.

31 March - The US bought the Virgin Islands for $25 million

 

The United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark, on 31 March 1917. The U.S. government acquired the Danish West Indies, which included the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, for the sum of $25 million in gold. This agreement, known as the Treaty of the Danish West Indies, was signed on 04 August 1916, and ratified on 17 January 1917. The official transfer of the islands to the United States took place on 31 March 1917, and they were renamed the United States Virgin Islands.

31 March - Octavio Paz birth anniversary

 

 Octavio Paz (31 March 1914 – 19 April 1998) was a Mexican writer, poet, and diplomat.

Paz began his career as a poet, publishing his first collection of poems, “Luna Silvestre” (Wild Moon), in 1933. He went on to publish many more collections of poetry, including “Piedra de sol” (Sunstone), which is considered one of his greatest works.

In addition to his poetry, Paz was a prolific essayist, writing on a wide range of topics including politics, culture, and art. His essays are known for their insight and originality, and he was a leading intellectual in Mexico and the Spanish-speaking world.

Paz’s work was deeply influenced by his experiences as a diplomat. He served as Mexico’s ambassador to India from 1962 to 1968, and his time in India had a profound impact on his writing, inspiring many of his most famous works.

Octavio Paz died on 19 April 1998 in Mexico City, Mexico. Paz’s legacy as a poet, essayist, and intellectual continues to influence writers and thinkers around the world. His work explores themes of identity, culture, and the human condition, and his writing is celebrated for its beauty, complexity, and depth.

 

30 March - Alaska Purchase

 

As Russia completed its eastward expansion through Siberia, the country inevitably crossed the Bering Strait and established a presence in the northern Americas. This territory, first settled in the early 17th century, was known as Alaska, but very few Russians ever moved there.

Russia was damaged militarily by its defeat in the Crimean War, in which Britain and its ally France defeated the Empire. Russian Tsar Alexander II began looking for ways to sell Alaska to America, especially as the territory would be impossible to defend if Britain decided to attack it. (Britain held Canada as a colony at the time of the sale.)

After the American Civil War concluded, negotiations began on selling Alaska to America, though opinion in both countries was against the deal. Many Russians did not want to give away a territory where gold had been discovered, and Americans did not want an 'ice-box' where very few people lived.

On 30 March 1867, the two countries agreed on a purely symbolic sum of $7.2 million ($109 million in 2018), about 2 cents an acre. America had purchased 586,412 square miles (1,518,800 km2) of territory. Alaska would not be admitted as a state to the Union until 1959, and it remained sparsely populated until a gold rush in the late 19th century.