Himalaya Diwas, also known as the Himalayan day is annually observed across India especially in Uttarakhand on September 9th to create awareness about the importance and significance of the Himalayas. The day also celebrates the unique biodiversity of the Himalayas.
Background:
i.In 2014, then Chief Minister(CM) of Uttarakhand Harish Rawat proclaimed that the 9th September of every year will be observed as Himalaya Diwas to create awareness about the conservation of the Himalayan ecosystem.
ii.He also announced that the day will be celebrated by the Government of Uttarakhand.
iii.The observance of the Himalaya Diwas was proposed by Ajay Bhatt, senior BJP leader and then leader of the opposition.
iv.The first Himalaya Diwas was celebrated on 9th September 2015.
About the Himalayas:
i.The word the Himalayas is derived from Sanskrit words ‘Hima’ which means snow and ‘Alaya’ which means adobe.
ii.The Himalayas, the world’s loftiest and youngest mountain ranges, constitute a crescent-shaped mountain range extending over 2500 km from the south of the Indus Valley beyond Nanga Parbat in the west to Namcha Barwa in the east.
Peaks:
The world’s 14 eight-thousanders, mountains higher than 8000 metres are located in either the Karakoram or Himalayan mountain ranges of central Asia. Mount Everest is the highest of the Himalayan mountains
Flora and Fauna:
The Himalayan region houses various unique, endemic and endangered species of flora and fauna such as snowcock, the Himalayan choughs, rose finches and accentors.
UNESCO Heritage sites in the Himalayas:
- Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area(Himachal Pradesh, India)
- Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks(Uttarakhand, India)
- Khangchendzonga National Park(Sikkim, India)
- Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal)
