FocusCivils

What is a ‘bad bank’? A bad bank is a financial entity set up to buy non performing assets (NPAs), or bad loans, from banks. The aim of setting up a bad bank is to help ease the burden on banks by taking bad loans off their balance  sheets and get them to lend again to  customers without constraints. After the purchase of a bad loan from a bank, the bad bank may later try to restructure and sell the NPA to  investors who might be interested in  purchasing it. A bad bank makes a profit in its  operations if it manages to sell the loan at a price  higher than what it paid to acquire the loan from a commercial bank. However,  generating profits is usually not the primary  purpose of a bad bank — the objective is to ease the burden on banks, of holding a large pile of stressed assets, and to get them to lend more actively. 

Buddha Purnima
The Prime Minister has recalled the principles of Lord Buddha and reiterated his commitment to fulfill them on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
He also visited Nepal during this special occasion. This will be PM Modi fifth visit to Nepal since 2014, and first by any Indian Prime Minister to Lumbini.
“India and Nepal’s ever-strengthening friendship and our closeness will benefit the entire humanity in the kind of global conditions that are emerging," PM Modi said while addressing the International Buddhist Conference. He also laid the foundation stone for the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in the Lumbini Monastic Zone.
• Buddha Purnima is celebrated to mark the birth of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

It is also known as Vesak. In 1999, it became an UN-designated day, to acknowledge the contribution of Buddhism to society.

•It is considered a 'triple-blessed day' - as Tathagata Gautam Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and Maha Parnirvana.

The concept of ahimsa was its chief contribution. Later, it became one of the cherished values of our nation.
Its contribution to the art and architecture of India was notable. The stupas at Sanchi, Bharhut, and Gaya are wonderful pieces of architecture.
It promoted education through residential universities like those at Taxila, Nalanda, and Vikramasila.
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Hornbill Festival
The Hornbill Festival, which is called the ‘Festivals of Festivals’, is a 10-day annual cultural fest of Nagaland celebrated from 1st December as the State of Nagaland was formally inaugurated on December 1st, which showcases the rich and diverse Naga ethnicity through folk dances, traditional music, local cuisine, handicraft, art workshops, etc.
•The Festival is celebrated in Nagaland to encourage inter-tribal interaction and to preserve, protect and revive the uniqueness and richness of the Naga heritage. It is organized by State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments and also supported by Union Government.
•The festival pays tribute to Hornbill, the most admired and revered bird for the Nagas for its qualities of alertness and grandeur.

Karakattam Dance

Kerala Nattukala Kshema Sabha has demanded that Karakattam (known as Kumbakkali in certain parts) be recognised as agricultural art form of Kerala.
• Karakattam is an ancient folk dance of Tamil Nadu performed in praise of the rain goddess Mariamman. It’s performed in different parts of Kerala as well.
• It is performed at festivals, roadshows and primarily at Mariamman festivals.

• It involves balancing a large number of pots of decreasing size on the head of the dancers while dancing and expressing theme of the dance.
• Mariamman pooja is held in the month of Medam after Makarakkoythu (harvest season) in Kerala.

Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra
Nanda Devi is one of the main deities of Uttarakhand region. Yatra takes place in honor of the great Nanda Devi.
It is also popular as Himalayan Mahakumbh is a grand yatra which goes on for weeks.
It is considered to be the avatar of Goddess Parvati and she is said to have left her village on the birth of Chausingha Khadu (four horned sheep) and went towards Nanda Devi Parbat. This whole pilgrimage takes 19 days and covers about 280kms and starts in Nauti village and ends Homkund.
What makes it more special is Nanda Devi Rat Jat Yatra takes place after every 12 years. The last one occurred in 2014 and the next one will be held in 2026.
It is said to be one of the toughest pilgrimage due to some reason. There is also a vast change in altitude while travelling from one place to another. It starts from 1050 mts and reaches to the highest of 5000 mts in Roopkand. Also at the beginning of the pilgrimage it rains quite heavily, which the people consider to be the result of their Goddess Nanda Devi’s crying as she has to leave her maternal home to go to the paternal house. The passing of the Roopkand is also another challenge as it is called the mysterious Lake. Usually people do not inhabit near it still there are skulls and skeletons found near the lake which is supposedly of centuries back...
This yatra brings together all the tribes of the northern part of India specially those of Gharwal and Kumaon region. ....
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