In the latest edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio show Mann Ki Baat, the leader devoted a substantial part to observe World Rivers Day, which is celebrated on Sunday. With relinquishing the occasion, Modi began his speech by highlighting the significance and importance of rivers and the urgent need to ensure they are kept clean.
World Rivers Day is observed annually on the fourth Sunday of September, with the purpose to raise awareness about rivers amongst the public and convey the importance of the water bodies across the world. The day highlights the values of rivers and attempts at increasing public awareness and encourages the quality of rivers and water bodies around the globe.
If rivers are not saved and are polluted, the plants and animals surrounding the river and canyon would not grow and look as beautiful as they are. Therefore, the day is observed to ensure that this crucial natural resource is valued and saved.
Rivers are freshwater that are present in the environment naturally, which helps in the supply of water for drinking, growing crops, manufacturing, energy, transport and many more.
They are vital for wildlife, atmosphere and people and so, needs careful management and also better care.
This day highlights the significance of rivers and aims to heighten awareness and encourage people to preserve them.
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Here's all you should know about this day:
1.) According to the website worldriversday.com the occasion is described as a “celebration of the world's waterways.” The day underlines “the many values of our rivers” and attempts to spread awareness in public about all rivers in the world.
2.) The day was first celebrated in 2005, following the launch of the Water for Life Decade, by the United Nations, in the same year.
3) A well-known Canadian river advocate Mark Angelo has given a proposal for a celebration of rivers.
4) Since the beginning of its celebrations 16 years ago, dozens of nations have been celebrating the day and in 2020 millions of people in around 100 nations have observed Rivers Day.
5) World Rivers Day is based on BC Rivers Day, founded and steered by Angelo in his native country since 1980. In Canada province, "BC" stands for British Columbia.
6) This festival is the largest river appreciation occasion in North America.
7) but it should be noted that September 26 has not been fixed as World Rivers Day celebrations because the Canadian event takes place on the fourth Sunday of September every year. Thus, the other nations also observe the day on the fourth Sunday in the ninth month to celebrate the latest river festival.
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India has many rivers and water bodies flowing throughout the country. The rivers stream mainly from the Himalayas. These rivers are the Indus, Ganga, Yamuna, and the Brahmaputra, while major Peninsular rivers are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri. Some other important rivers are Kosi, Narmada, Indus, Tapti (Tapi), Sutlej, Chambal, Beas, Tungabhadra, Sabarmati.