Hanuma Jayanti

Hanuman Jayanti is a Hindu religious festival that celebrates the birth of Hindu God Hanuman, who is immensely venerated throughout India and Nepal. This festival is celebrated on different days in different parts of India. In most states of India, the festival is observed either in Chaitra (usually on the day of Chaitra Pournimaa) or in Vaishakha, while in a few states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated in Dhanu (called Margazhi in Tamil).

Lord Hanuman is worshipped as a deity with the ability to attain victory against evil and provide protection. On this auspicious day, devotees of Lord Hanuman celebrate him and seek his protection and blessings. They flock to temples to worship him and present religious offerings. In return, The devotees receive Prasad by the temple priests as sweets, flowers, coconuts, tilak, sacred ash (udi) and Ganga jal (holy water). People also celebrate him on this day by reciting various devotional hyms and prayers like the Hanuman Chalisa and reading holy scriptures like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Hanuman Janam-Utsav is an important festival of the Hindus. Hanuman Janmotsav is also the biggest celebrated festival in India. Lord Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and is widely known for his unflinching devotion to Rama. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. He is said to be able to assume any form at will, wield the gada (including many celestial weapons), move mountains, dart through the air, seize the clouds, and equally rival Garuda in the swiftness of flight.

Birth

Lord Hanuman was born on the Anjaneri mountain. His mother Anjana was an apsara who was born on earth due to a curse. She was redeemed from this curse on giving birth to a son. The Valmiki Ramayana states that his father Kesari was the son of Brihaspati, he was the King of a place named Sumeru. Anjana performed intense prayers lasting 12 long years to Rudra to get a child. Pleased with their devotion, Rudra granted them the son they sought. Hanuman, in another interpretation, is the incarnation or reflection of Rudra himself.

Hanuman is often called the son of the deity Vayu (Wind God); several different traditions account for the Vayu's role in Hanuman's birth. One story mentioned in Eknath's Bhavartha Ramayana (16th century CE) states that when Anjana was worshiping Rudra, the King Dasharatha of Ayodhya was also performing the ritual of Putrakama yagna in order to have children. As a result, he received some sacred pudding (payasam) to be shared by his three wives, leading to the births of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. By divine ordinance, a kite snatched a fragment of that pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest where Anjana was engaged in worship. Vayu, the Hindu deity of the wind, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it. Hanuman was born to her as a result. Another tradition says that Anjana and her husband Kesari prayed Rudra for a child. By Rudra's direction, Vayu transferred his male energy to Anjana's womb. Accordingly, Hanuman is identified as the son of the Vayu

Another story of Hanuman's origins is derived from the Vishnu Purana and Naradeya Purana. Narada, infatuated with a princess, went to his lord Vishnu, to make him look like Vishnu, so that the princess would garland him at swayamvara (husband-choosing ceremony). He asked for hari mukh (Hari is another name of Vishnu, and mukh means face). Vishnu instead bestowed him with the face of a vanara. Unaware of this, Narada went to the princess, who burst into laughter at the sight of his ape-like face before all the king's court. Narada, unable to bear the humiliation, cursed Vishnu, that Vishnu would one day be dependent upon a vanara. Vishnu replied that what he had done was for Narada's own good, as he would have undermined his own powers if he were to enter matrimony. Vishnu also noted that Hari has the dual Sanskrit meaning of vanara. Upon hearing this, Narada repented for cursing Vishnu. But Vishnu told him not to repent as the curse would act as a boon, for it would lead to the birth of Hanuman, an avatar of Rudra, without whose help Rama (Vishnu's avatar) could not kill Ravana.

Worship

The devotees visit temples and apply tilaka of sindoor to their foreheads from Hanuman's idol. As per legend, When Lord Hanuman found Sri Sita applying sindhūr to her forehead, He questioned her and she replied that doing so would ensure a long life for her husband, Lord Sri Rama. Lord Hanuman then proceeded to smear his entire body with sindhūr, thus ensuring Lord Sri Rama's immortality.

In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Hanuman Janmotsav is celebrated on the New Moon day in Margazhi (Dhanu) month. Famous Hanuman temples in these states like Nanganallur, Namakkal, Suchindram, Thrikkaviyoor and Alathiyoor celebrate this day with pomp and valour.

In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Hanuman Janmotsav is celebrated by Diksha of 41 days beginning on Chaitra Purnima and concluding it on the tenth day during Krishna Paksha in Vaishaka.

In Maharashtra, Hanuman Janmotsav is celebrated on the full moon day (pūrnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra. A special feature of Hanuman Janmotsav is that according to some religious almanacs (panchāngs) the birthday of Hanuman falls on the fourteenth day (chaturdashi) in the dark fortnight of the month of Ashvin while according to others it falls on the full moon day in the bright fortnight of Chaitra. On this day in a Hanuman temple, spiritual discourses begin at dawn since Lord Hanuman was born at sunrise. During the time frame of birth, the spiritual discourse are halted and the offering of food (Prasad) is distributed to everyone.

On Hanuman Janmotsav sadhaks observe fasts and carry out special puja, patha and anusthan i.e. Shri Ramcharitmanas akhand patha, Srimad Bhagavad Gita patha, Srimad Bhagavad Purana patha, Srimad Vishnu Purana patha and abhishek to Lord Vishnu along with patha of Vishnu Sahasranama, Ram Nam mantra ashtjam.

Spiritual discourses are organised in most of the Hindu temples on this day. Lord Hanuman is considered as the most powerful being in all the lokas (realms).

Datta Jayanti - Dattatreya Jayanti

Dattatreya is the God who is an incarnation of the Divine Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva .

The word Datta means "Given", Datta is called so because the divine trinity have "given" themselves in the form of a son to the sage couple Guru Atri and Mata Anusuya . He is the son of Guru Atri, hence the name "Atreya ."

 In other regions, and some versions of texts such as Garuda Purana, Brahma Purana and Sattvata Samhita, he is an avatar of Lord Vishnu only Several Upanishads are dedicated to him, as are texts of the Vedanta-Yoga tradition in Hinduism.

 One of the most important texts of Hinduism, namely Avadhuta Gita (literally, "song of the free soul") is attributed to Dattatreya.

Over time, Dattatreya has inspired many monastic movements in Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism, particularly in the Deccan region of India, south India, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himalayan regions where Shiva tradition has been strong. His pursuit of simple life, kindness to all, sharing of his knowledge and the meaning of life during his travels is reverentially mentioned in the poems by Tukaram, a saint-poet of the Bhakti movement.

Datta Jayanti, also known as Dattatreya Jayanti, is a Hindu festival, commemorating the birth day celebration of the Hindu god Dattatreya (Datta), a combined form of the Hindu male divine trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

It is celebrated on the full moon day of the Margashirsha (Agrahayana) month according to the Hindu Calendar (December/January) throughout the country, and in particular in Maharashtra.

Legend

Dattatreya was the son of the sage Atri and his wife Anasuya. Anasuya, an archetypal chaste and virtuous wife, did severe Tapas (austerities) to beget a son equal in merits as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the Hindu male trinity (Trimurti). Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati, the goddess trinity (Tridevi) and consorts of the male trinity, became jealous. They deputed their husbands to test her virtuousness.

The three gods appeared before Anasuya in the disguise of sanyasis (ascetics) and asked her to give them alms naked. Anasuya was perplexed for a while, but soon regained composure. She uttered a mantra and sprinkled water on the three mendicants, turning them into babies. She then breast fed them with her milk naked, as they wished. When Atri returned to his ashram (hermitage), Anasuya narrated the event, which he already knew through his psychic powers. He hugged the three babies to his heart, transforming them into a single baby with three heads and six arms.

As the triad of gods did not return, their wives got worried and rushed to Anasuya. The goddesses begged her forgiveness and requested her to return their husbands. Anasuya accepted their request. The Trimurti then appeared in their true form, before Atri and Anasuya, and blessed them with a son Dattatreya.

Though Dattatreya is considered a form of all the three deities, he is especially considered an avatar of Vishnu, while his siblings the moon-god Chandra and the sage Durvasa are regarded forms of Brahma and Shiva respectively.

Worship

On Datta Jayanti, people take bath early in the morning in holy rivers or streams, and observe fast. A puja of Dattatreya is performed with flowers, incense, lamps, and camphor. Devotees meditate on his image and pray to Dattatreya with a vow to follow in his footsteps. They remember Dattatreya's work and read the sacred books Avadhuta Gita and Jivanmukta Gita, which contain the god's discourse. Other sacred texts like the Datta Prabodh (1860) by Kavadi Baba and the Datta Mahatmya by Param Pujya Vasudevananda Saraswati (Tembe Swami Maharaj), both of which are based on Dattatreya's life, as well as the Guru-charita based on the life of Narasimha Saraswati (1378−1458), considered an avatar of Dattatreya, are read by devotees. Bhajans (devotional songs) are also sung on this day.

Datta Jayanti is celebrated with much fanfare in the god's temples. The temples dedicated to Dattatreya are located throughout India, the most important places of his worship are in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat like Ganagapur in Karnataka near Gulbarga, Narasimha Wadi in the Kolhapur district, Pithapuram in Andhra Pradesh near Kakinada, Audumbar in Sangli district, Ruibhar in Osmanabad district and Girnar in Saurashtra.

Some temples like Manik Prabhu Temple, Manik Nagar host an annual 7-day festival in honour of the deity in this period. In this temple, Datta Jayanti is celebrated for 5 days from Ekadasi to Poornima. People from Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana come here to have darshan of the deity. The saint Manik Prabhu, who is also regarded as an incarnation of Dattatreya by the people of Datta Sampraday, was born on Datta Jayanti.

Datta Jayanti was celebrated by Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Upasana Trust (Mumbai, India) in Amalner city in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, India between 30 November to 3 December 2017 wherein thousands of devotees from various parts of Maharashtra participated and took blessings of Lord Dattatreya. Shri Ganpati Atharvashirsha, Lalita Ambika Poojan, Datta Bawani, and Shri Datta Sahastranaam were chanted in this four-day event. With the spirit of self-discipline, the foundation managed the event in peace and harmony.

New Year Eve

In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, the last day of the year, is on 31 December. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated at evening parties, where many people dance, eat, drink, and watch or light fireworks. Some Christians attend a watch-night service. The celebrations generally go on past midnight into New Year's Day, 1 January.

Boxing day

Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated the day after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide. Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of the British Empire. Boxing Day is on 26 December, although the attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place either on that day or one or two days later (if necessary to ensure it falls on a weekday). Boxing Day is also concurrent with the Christian holiday Saint Stephen's Day.

In parts of Europe, such as Bulgaria, Catalonia, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Scandinavia, 26 December is celebrated as a second Christmas Day.

Sharadadevi Jayanti

Sharada Devi (22 December 1853 – 20 July 1920), born Kshemankari/ Thakurmani/ Saradamani Mukhopadhyay, was the wife and spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna, a nineteenth-century Hindu mystic and saint. Sharada Devi is also reverentially addressed as the Holy Mother (Sri Sri Maa) by the followers of the Sri Ramakrishna monastic order. Sri Sharada Devi is one of the notable woman saints and mystics of the nineteenth century. She paved the way for the future generation of women to take up monasticity as the means and end of life. In fact the Sri Sharada Mutt and Ramakrishna Sharada Mission situated at Dakshineshwar is based on the ideals and life of her. Sri Sharada Devi played an important role in the growth of the Ramakrishna Movement.

Sri Sharada Devi was born in Joyrambati. At the age of five she was betrothed to Sri Ramakrishna. According to her biographers, both lived lives of unbroken continence, showing the ideals of a householder and of the monastic ways of life. The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna regarded her as their own mother, and after their guru's death looked to her for advice and encouragement. The followers of the Ramakrishna movement worship her as an incarnation of the Adi Parashakti or the Divine Mother.

At Dakshineswar Kali Temple

At Dakshineswar, Sharada Devi stayed in a tiny room in the nahabat (music tower). She stayed at Dakshineswar until 1885, except for short periods when she visited Jayrambati. By this time Ramakrishna had already embraced the monastic life of a sannyasin; as a result, the marriage was never consummated.

Last days

Sharada Devi spent her final years moving back and forth between Jayrambati and Calcutta. In January 1919, Sharada Devi went to Jayrambati and stayed there for over a year. She died at 1.30 am on Tuesday the 21 July 1920 at Mayer Badi (in the first floor of the Shrine Room), Kolkata.

Quotes

• Practise meditation, and by and by your mind will be so calm and fixed that you will find it hard to keep away from meditation.
• The mind is everything. It is in the mind alone that one feels pure and impure. A man, first of all, must make his own mind guilty and then alone can he see another man's guilt.
• "I tell you one thing. If you want peace of mind, do not find fault with others. Rather see your own faults. Learn to make the whole world your own. No one is a stranger, my child; the whole world is your own."
• One must have devotion towards one's own guru. Whatever may be the nature of the guru, the disciple gets salvation by dint of his unflinching devotion towards his guru.

Impact and Legacy

Sharada Devi played an important role as the advisory head of a nascent organization that became a monastic order devoted to social work—the Ramakrishna Mission.

Kissan Day

Importance and Observation

Kisan Diwas is observed across the country on 23 December to celebrate the birthday of Chaudhary Charan Singh.

On this occasion, farmer seminars will be organised at the divisional, district and block levels. Political leaders cutting across party lines pay tributes to fifth PM of India on his 11th birth anniversary. Leaders visit the former PM’s samadhi at Kisan Ghat in New Delhi.

Government in 2001 decided to observe 23 December every year as Kisan Diwas (Farmers Day).

Chaudhary Charan Singh holds the record of being the only Prime Minister of India who did not face the Parliamentary floor for a single day after assuming the office.

Winter Solstice

The winter solstice also known as midwinter occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere. For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky. At the pole, there is continuous darkness or twilight around the winter solstice. Its opposite is the summer solstice. Also, the sun goes 90 degrees below the horizon at solar midnight to the nadir.

History

The solstice may have been a special moment of the annual cycle for some cultures even during neolithic times. Astronomical events were often used to guide activities, such as the mating of animals, the sowing of crops and the monitoring of winter reserves of food. Many cultural mythologies and traditions are derived from this.

Observations

Although the instant of the solstice can be calculated, direct observation of the solstice by amateurs is impossible because the sun moves too slowly or appears to stand still (the meaning of "solstice"). However, by use of astronomical data tracking, the precise timing of its occurrence is now public knowledge.

International Human Solidarity Day

Human Solidarity Day is the United Nations (UN) observance and is observed on 20th December every year.

Meaning

Solidarity is an awareness of shared interests, creating a sense of unity in societies. Cooperation and solidarity can pursue the aim of the UN of lifting people out of poverty, hunger and disease.

Theme and Purpose

The theme and basic purpose of solidarity day are to eradicate poverty and promote the culture of cooperation, equality and social justice, which tends to human and social development particularly in developing countries.

On 22 December 2005, the General Assembly of the United Nations revealed that solidarity is one of the basic pillars of the relationship among people of the world in the twenty-first century. The United Nations emphasized upon governments to maintain equality and social justice among people for the eradication of poverty and decided to celebrate 20 December of each year as International Human Solidarity Day.

International Human Solidarity Day Activities

• International Human Solidarity Day provides us with a bright opportunity to celebrate our unity in diversity.
• On this Day importance and needs of solidarity must be debated and discussed at proper forums.
• Solidarity is one of the basic tools for the eradication of poverty from society.
• This Day is also a reminder for governments to respect international agreements.
• On International Human Solidarity Day we must raise public awareness about the utmost significance of solidarity, in order to fulfil the desired targets of the United Nations for Sustainable Development Goals

Logo

The UN symbol of international Human Solidarity Day is the sketch of four humans encompassing the earth with their arms collectively. The sketches of humans are of different colors which is the symbol of unity and solidarity.

Hampi Phalapujotsav

The festivals that are celebration at this holy place are chiefly three Chokka-Dahana. It is also called (Fire). It takes place on Kartika Shuddha Poornima every year.

Phala Pooja

This festival is also called 'Siri'. It will be held on Margasira Bahula Dwitiya. This is a very rare festival performed to God and Goddess throught the world. In almost all the temples Kalayanaotsava (Wedding ceremony) is performed for God and Goddess, but for the Sri Virupaksha Swamy prior to Kalyanaotsava Phalapooja festival (marriage fixing ceremony) is performed for three days.

The ceremony starts on Margashira Poornima (Full Moon day) (roughly in the month of December). On that day Sri Virupaksha Swamy thepposavam festival (placing God and Goddess in decorated boat like vessel) and making five rounds in the big pond (Manmukha kunda) situated in the North-East direction of the main temple. On the third day i.e. on Margashira Krishna Dwiteeya after the completion of third abhishekam for Lord Sri Virupaksha Swamy, the God and Goddess are placed on silver Vrishabha Vahana (Silver Bull) and taken to Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy temple in a grand procession.

Here for this rare ceremony Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sri Hampi Virupaksha Vidyaranya Samasthanam will participate from (Bride groom side) and Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy Devi Sita lakshamana and King Sugreeva from Goddess side (Bride's side). In this festival the auspicious day and hour of the wedding ceremoney of Virupaksheshwara swamy is decided.

The Kalyanotsava and Rathosava (Car festival ) of Sri Virupaksheshwara is also called 'Sampathi'. There is a tradition from long past to celebrate the rathotsava of Sri Chandra Mouleshwara the worshipping deity of Sri Vidyaranya along with that of Sri Pampa Virupaksheshwara in separate chariots.

Aaridradarshana

Aaridra Darshan or Aridradarshana is observed in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December – January). It is essentially a Shaivite festival and celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, which is represented by the Nataraja form. Aridra signifies the golden red flame and Shiva performs the dance in the form of this red-flamed light.

It must be noted here that Arudhra, Ardra, Arudhara, Aridra, Arudara are the different spellings used in English language to mention the same festival. Aridra or Thiruvathirai is also the name of a birth star or nakshatra in Hindu astrology. The star is associated with Shiva.

Importance of Aridra Darshan

Aridra Darshan is one of the most auspicious days associated with Lord Shiva. It is dedicated to the cosmic dance of Shiva.

The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva represents five activities – Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release. In essence, it represents the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. This cosmic dance takes place in every particle and is the source of all energy. Aridra Darshan celebrates this ecstatic dance of Lord Shiva. Aridra Darshan is of great importance at the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and marks the conclusion of Margazhi Brahmotsavam.

When is Aridra Darshan Observed?

It takes place on the full moon night (along with Aridra Birth Star) in the month of Margazhi and this is also the longest night in a year. The festival is mainly observed in the Tamil speaking world. The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva is enacted on the day.

National Energy Conservation Day

World Energy Conservation Day is celebrated on 14th December globally to highlight the importance of energy consumption and its use in our day-to-day life, its scarcity and its impact on sustainability of global eco systems. ... Every day the human population across the world uses energy for leading a civilized life.

Gita Jayanti

Significance

Gita Jayanti is the birthday of Bhagavad Gita, the sacred text of Hindus. It's celebrated on the Shukla Ekadashi, 11th day of waxing moon of Margashira month of the Hindu calendar. It is believed the "Bhagavad Gita" was revealed to Arjuna by Krishna Himself in the battlefield of Kurukshetra (in present-day Haryana, India). The text is written in the third person, narrated by Sanjaya to King Dhritarashtra as it transpired between Sri Krishna and Arjuna. Sanjaya, the secretary of the blind King Dhritarashtra, had been blessed by his Guru, Veda Vyasa, with the power to remotely view the events taking place on the battlefield as they transpired.

Celebration

Gita Jayanti is celebrated worldwide by all devotees of Lord Krishna (followers of Sanatana Dharma), who revere Bhagavad Gita as their Divine Mother because she teaches (in a non-sectarian and scientific manner) how to re-establish our lost relationship with God Almighty (The Supreme).

It is generally observed by the en-masse recitation of all 700 verses of the Gita chanted throughout the day. Devotees also fast on this day since it is an Ekadashi day (Ekadasi is the eleventh day of the waxing moon and waning moon) – it occurs twice every lunar month and is observed by fasting from grains and lentils (peas, beans, dhals) by those who seek to progress spiritually. Bhajans and Poojas are held on this day. In places where this festival is celebrated grandly, stage play and Gita chanting competitions are held for kids to show their talents as a way to encourage their interest in reading Gita. Yogis, Sanyasins and learned scholar give talks and held forums of this holy scripture. Leaflets, pamphlets, and books containing the essence of Gita are distributed to the public. It is especially auspicious to distribute free copies of the Gita on this holy day.

Shri Manik Prabhu Temple

Sri Manik Prabhu temple is a Hindu temple located in the Manik Nagar near, Humnabad in the state of Karnataka.

History

Manik Prabhu selected Manik Nagar as the significant and ideal place to lay the foundation of spiritual centre. Manik Nagar is located on high slope grounds. Manik Prabhu temple lies on the outskirts of Humnabad, a kilometer away from this taluka. The temple is located on the confluence of two rivulets Viraja and Guru Ganga.

People believe that Manik Prabhu, the renowned saint, was fourth incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. There was Political and religious chaos between two communities, Hindu and Muslim, and were the riotous times. Manik Prabhu had an envisioned these two streams (communities) come together and lead a peaceful life. Due to this prognostic vision, even today both Hindus and Muslims visit Manik Nagar every year to pay homage to the Great Founder of Universal Truth, the Sakalamata. Muslim community considers Shri Prabhu to be an Avatar of Mehaboob Subhani, a Muslim Saint.

Mahasamadhi

When Prabhu realised that the time had come to shed mortal body and be one with eternity. As Shri Prabhu was reluctant to disclose the time of his own departure to all, he took only three or four persons into confidence, those who understood the significance of his Avatar (incarnation). The news was kept in utmost confidence and all the required work was carried on with a smile on the face but with remorse in the heart.

On the tenth day of Margashira, Shri Prabhu decided to summon the Durbar, so that people could have his final Darshan. All arrangements were made for Shri Prabhu to sit in as comfortable a position as was possible. The next day was Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the month. Next day, on 29^th November 1865, was the day on which Shri Prabhu had decided to take Samadhi and merge His Self with the Supreme Self.

Sutturu CF

Suttur (Also spelled Sutturu/Suthur/Suththur) is a village on the banks of river Kabini. It is located in the Nanjangud taluk in the district of Mysore. It is famous for the Suttur Mutt which is one of most prominent spiritual centers of India. It is located at a distance of 28 km south of Mysore.

Culture

Suttur Mutt has a history of 1,000 years. Suttur Mutt established Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeswara Mahavidyapeetha (popularly called as JSS Mahavidyapeetha) in 1954. Suttur Mutt runs more than 300 educational institutions in Karnataka and other parts of the country. Some of the institutions are located in North India and outside the country. The present Pontiff Jagadguru Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji is the President of Mahavidyapeetha.

History

Community life in India is closely linked with spiritual and religious institutions for the past five thousand years. The Rishis have been the beacons and guiding forces in upholding the moral values of life and in the progression of society as a whole. The glorious Jagadguru Sri Veerasimhasana Mutt, popularly known as Sri Suttur Mutt is a reflection of and testimony to this rich tradition.

UNICEF Day

UNICEF Day is observed on 11 December every year. It is the organization protects the rights of every child everywhere and works in the toughest places in the world to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents. UNICEF is one of the world's largest providers of vaccines and supports the health of children, nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality education and skill-building, HIV prevention and treatment for mothers and babies. Also, the organization protects children and adolescents from violence and exploitation.

UNICEF: How does it work?

UNICEF works in the world's toughest places to reach the children and young people in greatest need. They operate through country offices across the world, as well as 34 National Committees, seven regional offices, a research centre in Florence, a supply operation in Copenhagen, a shared services centre in Budapest, as well as other offices in Brussels, Geneva, Seoul, and Tokyo. Around 85 percent of our staffs are located in the field.  Its headquarter is in New York.

UNICEF is working with several experts to bring reliable guidance to parents, caregivers, and educators, and partnering with front-line responders to make sure that they have the information and resources required to keep children healthy and learning.

About the six-point plan to protect children

According to UNICEF;

1. Ensure all children learn, including by closing the digital divide.

2. Guarantee access to health and nutrition services and make vaccines affordable and available to every child.

3. Support and protect the mental health of children and young people and bring an end to abuse, gender-based violence, and neglect in childhood.

4. Increase access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene and address environmental degradation and climate change.

5. Reverse the rise in child poverty and ensure an inclusive recovery for all.

6. Redouble efforts to protect and support children and their families living through conflict, disaster, and displacement.