Occasional Digest

Guru Ravidas was born at the end of the 14th century in Seer Govardhanpur village, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was born into a low caste family who were regarded as untouchables.

Guru Ravidas was one of the first people to argue that all Indians should have a set of basic human rights. He became an eminent figure in the Bhakti Movement and taught spirituality and tried to bring forward a message of equality message based on freedom from the oppression of the Indian caste system.

This has been one of the most important festivals of the Ahom since at least their arrival in Assam in the 12th century.

It is a festival to show respect to the departed ancestors and remember their contribution to society.

The word ‘Me’ means offerings. ‘Dam’ means ancestors and ‘Phi’ means gods. So while this festival is seen as ancestor worship, the name reflects the Ahom belief that ancestors soon turn to gods, when an individual’s immortal soul joins with the soul of the supreme being.

A REFORMED character has admitted he cannot bring to mind the last occasion when he exposed his bare buttocks to the world as a statement.

During the 11th century, a debate raged in Christian churches over which of the three hierarchs was indeed the greatest. Some people believed it was Saint Basil, while others were firmly in the corner of John Chrysostom. Each of these saints had their own feast day in January—with St. Basil having his on January 1st, Saint Gregory on January 25th, and John Chrysostom on January 27th. The Eastern Churches declared that each was equal before God. That’s when all three feast days were combined and celebrated on January 30th.

Saint Valerius was a bishop of the capital city of Saragossa and was a part of the Council of Elbira. He, along with his deacon Vincent of Saragossa, was imprisoned under Roman Emperor Diocletian around the year 306. He was venerated by the people of Zaragoza and is the patron saint of the city.

In September 1991, a referendum for independence in Armenia ended nearly 70 years of Soviet rule.

By December 1991, the State Committee of Defense was established by the order of the President of the Republic of Armenia, Vazgen Sargsyan became the Minister of Defense.

The Armenian National Army was established on January 28th 1992, by decree of President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan.