Sadbhavana Diwas

Why is in news? Sadbhavana Diwas Observed with Pledge Taking in DEPwD

Background:

Our nation will celebrate Sadbhavana Diwas 2023 to commemorate Rajiv Gandhi’s 78th birth anniversary this year. As a mark of respect to the late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, India observes Sadbhavana Diwas on August 20 every year.

In 1992, a year after Rajiv Gandhi’s death, Congress instituted the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award.

About the Diwas:

'Sadbhavana Diwas' is observed nation-wide on 20th August annually but as it falls on a Sunday this year, Sadbhavana Pledge taking was organised on 18th August, 2023 in all Government Offices.

In English, ‘Sadbhavana’ translates to ‘goodwill.’ Sadbhavana Diwas’ key theme is to encourage national unity and social goodwill across people of various faiths and cultures.

This Diwas is observed to promote National Integration and Communal Harmony among people of all religions, languages and regions.

The idea behind the observance of this Day is to shun violence and to uphold goodwill among the people.

In honour of his birth anniversary, close family members of Rajiv Gandhi and senior Congress officials pay tributes to him. They lay wreaths on Veer Bhoomi, the site where he was cremated.

On Sadbhavana Diwas in India, numerous cultural events and contests are held across states.

Sadhbhavna Diwas is also related to the maintenance of greenery, beauty of nature, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation.

The main goal of many events on Sadbhavana Diwas is to promote consciousness among citizens about these critical environmental challenges.

Planting saplings is also proposed on this day.