Brahmotsavam at Tirumala
Why in news?
The annual 9-day Brahmotsav Celebrations has been held in Tirumala.
Key Points
- Tirumala Brahmotsavam is a Hindu festival celebrated annually at Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.
- According to Hindu beliefs, the history behind this Festival traces to Lord Brahma (Creator of universe).
- It is believed that Lord Brahma worshipped Sri Balaji on the banks of the holy Pushkarini in Tirupati. Lord Brahma wanted to thank Sri Balaji for Balaji’s protection of mankind
- Thousands of devotees every year gather to witness this grand Festival, participate in the rituals, and receive the blessings of Sri Venkateswara swami.
- The complete 9 day Festival is a memorable experience for all tourists and devotees. The feeling of complete bliss and heavenly connect is often termed as “Vaikunth anubhav”.
Nobel Peace Prize 2022
Why in news?
This year’s Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, the Russian human rights organisation Memorial and the Ukrainian human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties.
Who is Ales Bialiatski?
- Born on September 25, 1962, in Vyartsilya, Russia’s Karelia, Bialiatski was a resident of Belarus at the time of the award.
- Bialiatski was one of the initiators of the democratic movement that emerged in Belarus in the mid-1980s.
- He has devoted his life to promoting democracy and peaceful development in his home country.
- He founded the organisation Viasna (Spring) in 1996. Viasna evolved into a broad-based human rights organisation that documented and protested against the authorities’ use of torture against political prisoners. Government authorities have repeatedly sought to silence Ales Bialiatski.
- Since 2020, he is still detained without trial.
- Despite tremendous personal hardship, Mr Bialiatski has not yielded an inch in his fight for human rights and democracy in Belarus.
1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
Why in news?
US President Joe Biden says risk of nuclear conflict highest since 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
Know about 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
- The Cuban Missile Crisis was probably one of the most dangerous periods of the Cold War.
- For 13 days in October 1962, the world appeared to stand on the brink of nuclear war.
- This is one of the few examples from the Cold War where the two main superpowers(USA & USSR) actually came into direct confrontation with each other.