Som Pradosh Vrata/International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development/ World Soil Day

Pradosh Vrat
Triodashi is called Pradosh. Like Ekadashi, Pradosh is important every month, Vishnu is remembered in Ekadashi, and Shiva is remembered in Pradosh. Pradosh begins 45 minutes before sunset and ends 45 minutes after sunset.

Som Pradosh
Today is Som Pradosh Vrat as it is Pradosh Vrat on Monday. Monday is considered to be Shiva's beloved day, so it is believed that those who fast today and praises Lord Shiva, will attain immense purity and boons.

Pradosha Katha
 It is mentioned in the scriptures that Lord Shiva cured the disease of the moon on the day of Triodashi when the effect of the moon was diminishing.

Due to this, Pradosh Vrat is observed in the Triodashi every month in remembrance of Lord Shiva. It is more fruitful to worship Shiva in the time of Prados.

International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development

2020 Theme: Solidarity through volunteerism
Thank you volunteers for being in the frontline of disaster management and rescue, COVID response, creating solidarity and facing challenges generated by the pandemic. It was you who put tireless effort in making everyone safe and thank you for being there in saving people and planet.

Background:
International Volunteer Day (IVD) mandated by the UN General Assembly, is held each year on 5 December. It is viewed as a unique chance for volunteers and organizations to celebrate their efforts, to share their values, and to promote their work among their communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, government authorities and the private sector.

The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (5 December), more commonly referred to as International Volunteer Day (IVD), is an international observance mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1985. It offers an opportunity for volunteer-involving organizations and individual volunteers to promote volunteerism, encourage governments to support volunteer efforts and recognize volunteer contributions to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local, national and international levels.

Friends who stand in the crowd wearing scout clothes, line up and help are not greedy for any money or facility, they go to the Red Cross to donate blood and raise money from the school to donate blood and attend the service every time. Nepal's most downloaded mobile application, Hamro Patro shows respect to all those volunteers.

Every year on December 5, the United Nations celebrates International Volunteer Day. Volunteer Day is celebrated on this day with various programs all over the world including the member countries.

World soil day
This day is held every year on the 5th of December to advocate for the importance of healthy soil across the globe. Sanatana philosophy addresses that "What came from the soil goes back as soil", this indicates the human life and creatures living on this planet are all the manifestations of soil. Soil is important for our living, agriculture, and the very existence of humans on this earth.
And the theme for this year is also "Soil: where food begins".

History:
No laboratory has ever been able to produce or invent soil, so soil the pure and real form of creation. An international day to celebrate Soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002. Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand and within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership, FAO has supported the formal establishment of WSD as a global awareness-raising platform. The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013, the UN General Assembly responded by designating 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.

The date of 5 December was chosen because it corresponds with the official birthday of the late H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand, who was one of the main proponents of this initiative.

Let's acknowledge the soil within ourselves and affirm that we are all subjected to return the same form. Healthy soil equals healthy life, both of earth and human.

Suyog Dhakal