Events in India during February 2024:
1st February – Indian Coast Guard Day:
The Indian Coast Guard commemorates its founding day on February 1st. This 12-month marks the forty-sixth Raising Day of the Indian Coast Guard. The Indian Coast Guard has played a crucial role in securing the Indian coasts and enforcing regulations within India’s Maritime Zones.
4th February – Surajkund Crafts Mela:
Surajkund Crafts Mela takes place in Surajkund, District Faridabad, Haryana, from February 4 to February 20, 2023. It honors Indian folk traditions and cultural heritage, displaying the richness and diversity of India’s handicrafts, handlooms, and cultural fabric.
13th February – Sarojini Naidu’s Birthday:
The 13th of February marks the birth anniversary of India’s Nightingale, Sarojini Naidu. She was the first Indian woman President of the Indian National Congress. And the first woman Governor of an Indian state, United Province (now Uttar Pradesh).
14th February – Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami):
Saraswati Puja is celebrated on the fifth day of Magh, the first day of spring, falling from January to February. It is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, and art. Schools, colleges, and homes worship Saraswati, considered auspicious for starting education.
February 16, 2024 (Friday): Ratha Saptami
Ratha Saptami celebrated on the seventh day in the bright half of the Hindu month Magh, is a significant festival dedicated to the worship of Lord Surya, considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Also known as Surya Jayanti, this festival holds great importance in Hindu traditions.
19th February – Shivaji Jayanti:
This day marks the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm, especially in the state of Maharashtra.
20th February – Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day:
Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day is observed on February 20, marking the day it was granted the status of Union Territory and renamed Arunachal Pradesh.
February 24, 2024 (Saturday)–
Guru Ravidas Jayanti is celebrated to honor the birthday of Guru Ravidas, a prominent saint in the fifteenth century known for preaching social harmony and standing against caste discrimination and social injustice. Celebrated on Magh Purnima, the full moon day in the month of Magh, this day holds special significance for followers of Guru Ravidas.
Maghi Purnima on February 24, 2024 (Saturday):
Maghi Purnima, also known as Maha Maghi, falls on the full moon day in the month of Magh. This auspicious day marks the conclusion of the Magha month in North India and holds significance across various traditions.
National Science Day – February 28:
Annually on February 28th, India commemorates National Science Day to honor the pivotal discovery of the Raman Effect by the esteemed Indian scientist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. This breakthrough, unveiled on February 28, 1928, earned Raman the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. The National Science Day 2024 theme is “Science for a Sustainable Future,” emphasizing the crucial role of scientific advancements in fostering a sustainable world. The initiative to designate February 28 as National Science Day was proposed by the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) in 1986. The Indian government swiftly accepted this proposal, officially declaring February 28 as National Science Day in the same year. The inaugural celebration of National Science Day occurred on February 28, 1987, marking the beginning of an annual tradition dedicated to recognizing scientific achievements and promoting scientific temper in the country.
