Yamunotri Dham
Why in News: Several structures in the Yamunotri Dham area were damaged after the Yamuna River’s water levels surged due to heavy rainfall.
About Yamunotri Dham
- Char Dham: Yamunotri is one of the four sacred Hindu pilgrimages in the Himalayas, known as Char Dham, alongside Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
- Altitude: Situated at an altitude of 3,293 meters (10,804 ft) in the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand.
- Geographical Context: Surrounded by mountains and located near the Indo-China border.
- River Yamuna: The Yamuna, India’s second most sacred river after the Ganges, originates in Yamunotri.
- Pilgrimage Route: Yamunotri is the starting point of the Char Dham Yatra, which progresses to Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
- Yamunotri Temple: Dedicated to the goddess Yamuna, the temple is located in a narrow gorge near the river’s source.
Key Facts about the Yamuna River
- Tributary of the Ganges: The Yamuna is a major tributary of the Ganges River, also known as Jumna.
- Source: Originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the high Himalayas at an elevation of 4,421 meters.
- Path:
- The Yamuna flows 1,376 km solely through India, passing through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.
- It flows southwards through the Himalayan foothills and exits Uttarakhand onto the Indo-Gangetic Plain, forming the border between Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
- The river then passes through Delhi, feeding the Agra Canal, and continues southeast within Uttar Pradesh.
- Confluence with the Ganges: Near Prayagraj (Allahabad), the Yamuna merges with the Ganges, forming a sacred confluence celebrated with festivals and the Kumbh Mela every 12 years.
- Tons River: Joins near Dehradun, the largest tributary.
- Chambal River: The biggest right-bank tributary.
- Other Tributaries: Includes Hindon, Sarda, and Giri rivers on the right and Betwa and Sindh rivers on the left.
Perseverance Rover
Why in News: NASA’s Perseverance rover recently made a fascinating discovery that could provide insights into Mars’ ancient history and the potential for past microbial life.
Why in the News?
Discovery of Cheyava Falls Rock:
- Intriguing Characteristics: The Perseverance rover has identified a rock named “Cheyava Falls” that exhibits characteristics suggesting it may have hosted microbial life billions of years ago.
- Location: Cheyava Falls, an arrowhead-shaped rock, was found on the northern edge of Neretva Vallis, an ancient river valley that once channeled water into Jezero Crater, where Perseverance is operating.
- Chemical Signatures: The rock is rich in chemical signatures and structures that may have formed by life when the area contained running water.
- Detection of Organic Compounds: The rover’s SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals) instrument detected organic compounds in Cheyava Falls, which are carbon-based molecules considered the building blocks of life, although they can also be formed by non-biological processes.
About Perseverance Rover
- Nickname: Perseverance, also known as “Percy”, is a semi-autonomous rover designed to explore the surface of Mars.
- Mission: Part of NASA’s ongoing Mars 2020 Mission.
- Launch: It was launched on July 30, 2020, from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- Landing: Successfully landed on the surface of Mars’s Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021.
- Main Objectives:
- Ancient Life Signs: Seek signs of ancient life.
- Sample Collection: Collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for possible return to Earth.
- Sample Encapsulation: The rover will collect samples, encase them in tubes, and leave them on the planet’s surface to be retrieved and returned to Earth at a future date.
- Features:
- Dimensions: About 3 meters long, 2.7 meters wide, and 2.2 meters tall, roughly the size of a small car.
- Weight: Approximately 1,025 kilograms with all instruments on board.
- Power Source: Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG), which converts heat from the radioactive decay of plutonium into electricity.
- Equipment: Includes a rectangular body, six wheels, a robotic arm, a drill for sampling rocks, cameras, and various scientific instruments.
Ahom Dynasty
Why in News: The ‘Moidams,’ the mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in Assam, were recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
About Ahom Dynasty
Overview:
- Time Period: 1228–1826
- Location: Brahmaputra valley in Assam
- Sovereignty: Maintained sovereignty for nearly 600 years, successfully resisting Mughal expansion in the North-East
Founding:
- Founder: Sukaphaa, a Shan prince of Mong Mao, who came to Assam after crossing the Patkai Mountains
- Ethnicity: Though it was called the Ahom kingdom, it was multi-ethnic. The ethnic Ahom people constituted less than 10% of the population toward the end.
Political and Social Impact:
- Suzerainty: Established suzerainty over the Brahmaputra valley and significantly influenced the political and social life in the region.
- Titles: The rulers were referred to as ‘Chaopha’ or ‘Swargadeo’ by the people of the kingdom.
Conflict with Mughals:
- Mughal Attacks: Repeated attacks in the 17th century, with a notable occupation of the capital Garhgaon by Mir Jumla in 1662.
- Battle of Saraighat: In 1671, the Ahoms, led by Lachit Borphukan, successfully defeated the Mughals.
- End of Mughal Influence: By 1682, Mughal influence in the region was completely eradicated.
- Tungkhungia Kings: The kingdom saw its last set of kings, the Tungkhungia kings, established by Gadadhar Singha.
- Moamoria Rebellion: The kingdom weakened with the rise of the Moamoria rebellion.
- Burmese Invasions: Fell to a succession of Burmese invasions.
- British Control: Control passed into British hands after the First Anglo-Burmese War and the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826.
Moidams of Ahom Dynasty
- Moidams: Burial mounds of Ahom kings, queens, and nobles in Assam.
- Etymology: Derived from Tai words “Phrang-Mai-Dam” or “Mai-Tam,” meaning to bury and the spirit of the dead.
- Distinctive Features: Reflect the Ahom’s foreign influences.
Main Parts:
- Vault or Chamber: Where the body is placed.
- Hemispherical Earthen Mound: Covers the chamber.
- Brick Structure (Chaw-chali): On top for annual offerings, with an octagonal boundary wall and an arched gateway.
Construction:
- Materials: Originally made of wooden poles and beams; replaced with stone and brick during King Rudra Singha’s reign (CE 1696-1714).
- Burial Practices: Inside the vault, the dead were buried with their belongings, including clothes, ornaments, and weapons.
Location:
- Upper Assam: Found throughout the region.
- Charaideo: The main necropolis, also the first Ahom capital.