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12th edition of CMSVATAVARAN International Film Festival & Forum on Environment & Wildlife commences with ‘Green Fete’ in NCR Schools & Colleges

New Delhi : Leveraging the power of films, CMSVATAVARAN is Asia’s largest film festival and forum exclusively on environment and wildlife. For its 12th competitive edition, it received 800 films from 68 countries and 25 states in India. All films have gone thru multiple layers of scrutiny to short list nominated films and select awardee by eminent film and environment experts. All nominated films will be showcased in the ‘Green Fete’ starting September 9, 2024. The grand finale of the 12th CMS VATAVARAN International Film festival and forum on Environment & Wildlife will be held at Ganga Auditorium, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, from October 3-5, 2024.

The Birla Vidya Niketan School of Pushp Vihar, New Delhi will be the epicentre of environmental awareness as it hosts the 12th CMS VATAVARAN International Film Festival and Forum on September 10. The programme is part of a city-wide ‘Green Fete’ series running from September 10 to September 20, 2024, across New Delhi’s following prestigious educational institutions:

September 11, 2024 in Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh,
September 12, 2024 in NGF College of Engineering and Technology, Faridabad-Palwal, Haryana, September 13, 2024 in Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh,
September 16, 2024 in Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS), Faridabad, Haryana,
September 17, 2024 in TERI, School of Advanced Studies, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi,
September 18, 2024 in Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka, New Delhi,
September 19, 2024 in Bennet University, Noida,
September 20, 2024 in Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi.

Festival Highlights at the Birla Vidya Niketan School:
Film Screenings: Starting at 10:00 AM, attendees will be treated to award-winning films and documentaries that highlight this year’s festival theme, “Wetlands for LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).” These films aim to inspire viewers to adopt eco-friendly practices that support wetland conservation.

Painting Competition: Students will participate in a creative competition centered on the theme “Wetlands for LiFE.” The best paintings will be exhibited during the grand finale of the festival.
Interactive Discussions: Experts will engage students and faculty in discussions about critical environmental topics such as Wetlands, Water Conservation, and Climate Change.

The CMS VATAVARAN Festival is an exceptional opportunity for students and educators to delve deep into environmental issues through the powerful medium of film and artistic expression. Attendees are encouraged to participate actively and contribute to the conversation on sustainable living.
Admission is free for all attendee. All are invited for any of the above mentioned venues to be part of this significant movement towards environmental conservation.

Dr. Vasanti Rao, Director General of CMS states, “The CMS VATAVARAN festival is not just about raising awareness; it’s about inspiring a movement. We’re creating stimulating spaces that drive positive environmental change, one film, one conversation, and one action at a time.”

· Forgiveness can resolve many conflict in current global context – Acharya Lokesh

Dubai/New Delhi: Founder of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti and World Peace Centre Jain Acharya Lokesh addressed the most important Jain Samvatsari Mahaparva attended by thousands of devotees, especially the youth at Dubai Jain Center. The lecture series of Acharyashri Lokesh highlighted the teachings of Bhagwan Mahavira and importance of Samvatsari Mahaparva which were of great benefit for devotees present on the occasion.

World peace ambassador Acharya Lokeshji, while addressing the devotees on the topic ‘Samvatsari Mahaparva’ and ‘Bhagwan Mahavir’s life & philosophy’, said that Samvatsari Mahaparva has a very special significance in Jainism. The essence of this great festival is to do penance for all the mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly throughout the year and to ask for forgiveness with simplicity, honesty purity for the impolite behavior towards others and to forgive others. Bhagwan Mahavira said that ‘Forgiveness is the ornament of the brave’, only great people can take and give forgiveness. He said that in the current global context, when different communities have adopted the path of violence due to mutual differences, it is possible to resolve mutual differences through forgiveness.
World peace ambassador Acharya Lokeshji, in his discourse said that Samvatsari festival is a great festival for connecting human beings and reforming the human heart, which is celebrated with sacrifice, renunciation, fasting, Paushadh Samayik, self-study and self-restraint. Even those who are not able to find time to fast during the year are awakened on this day. Those who never fast are seen performing religious rituals on this day.

Acharya Lokesh said that gold becomes pure by being heated and man becomes God by being sacrifices and striving hard. This festival takes us from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. Through penance, chanting, meditation, self-study, the internal enemies like anger, pride, illusion, greed, attachment, hatred etc. will be destroyed, only then the true and pure soul remains, hence it inspires the soul to reside in the soul.

Acharyashree in his lecture said that Samvatsari festival is an experiment of review, reflect and confess. It is an honest effort to look back at oneself. This festival is a festival of immersing ego and possessiveness. This festival is a festival of worshiping the non-violence. Presently the whole world needs non-violence and friendship. This festival is a festival of non-violence and friendship. Peace can be achieved only through non-violence and friendship.

All the programs of Paryushan festival, were successfully organised with the enthusiasm and arrangements of the entire Dubai Jain Sangh. The efforts by Shri Vipul Bhai Kothari, Shekhar Bhai Patni, Chandu Bhai, Rajesh Bhai Sirohiya, Karan Bhai, are appreciable and unprecedented. Yogacharya Shri Kundan Ji conducted meditation and yoga sessions.

PUNE: MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) has established a state-of-the-art Ground Station at its Pune campus as part of the institution’s nano-satellite initiative. Inaugurated by Mr. Rahul Karad, Executive President of MIT-WPU, the one-of-its-kind facility, capable of both satellite reception and radio astronomy, will provide valuable data for enhancing radio astronomy research and improving satellite communications capabilities.

Said Prof. Dr. Milind Pande, Pro Vice Chancellor, MIT World Peace University, “This cutting-edge Ground Station embodies a new approach to satellite communication and radio astronomy, offering dual capabilities that set it apart globally. The ability to communicate with satellites on one hand and study emissions from cosmic bodies on the other is a great way to leverage technology and research for multiple purposes. Working on this project would serve as a valuable learning experience for MIT-WPU students and prepare them for careers in astronomy, aerospace and related fields. It is also meant to be a practical stepping stone for them to design and launch a nanosatellite in near future.”

Added Dr. Anup Kale, Associate Dean, School of Science & Environmental Studies, MIT-WPU, “The primary purpose of the Ground Station is to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application by providing our students hands-on experience with satellite communication and radio astronomy. The facility will be used for a variety of critical functions, including receiving and analysing data from open-source satellites to support research in fields such as climate science, disaster management, and space exploration. It will also enable study of cosmic emissions, contributing valuable insights into the behaviour of celestial bodies.”

The Ground Station consists of six different antennae designed to receive signals from satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), High Elliptical Orbit (HEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). Specialized dish and horn antennas enable the reception of high-frequency signals, transforming it into a powerful Radio Astronomy tool and enabling the study of the universe’s most minute signals, galaxy mapping, dark matter, and radio imagery of the cosmos. The Ground Station can receive signals from open-source satellites to collect weather data, as well as telemetry from CubeSats, Nanosats, and Microsats.

Students of the varsity’s Cosmos Club, dedicated to nurturing the curiosity and passion of amateur astronomers, are actively involved in the Ground Station. Said Ojas Dhumal, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at MIT-WPU and member of the Cosmos Club, “The facility’s control room can simultaneously handle complex tasks of satellite communication (downlink) and cosmic observation. This unique combination is rare. The Ground Station is currently in contact with NOAA and Meteor satellites, receiving data that helps us understand and respond to weather patterns and track environmental changes. It has successfully done reception from the International Space Station several times.”

The students are also preparing to upload data to various satellites as part of hands-on learning experience, following their acquisition of a HAM (amateur radio) license.

A team of 35 MIT-WPU students is working on the project along with 4 faculty members including Dr. Anup Kale, Associate Dean, School of Science & Environmental Studies, and Prof. Anagha Karne, Dr. Deobrat Singh and Dr. Sachin Kulkarni from Department of Physics under the varsity’s School of Science & Environmental Studies.