Context: Recently, Onam, the significant harvest festival of Kerala, was celebrated with grandeur and devotion.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Onam.
About Onam
Onam is a ten-day festival celebrated to honour the return of the legendary King Mahabali to Earth (once a year) to visit his people.
The festival also signifies the end of the monsoon and the start of the harvest season.
Rituals and Celebrations:
People worship King Mahabali and Lord Vamana and pray for the health and longevity of their close ones. On Thiruvonam (the last day of the festival), King Mahabali visits the earth.
Onam is observed with a range of traditional dance performances such as:
Thiruvathira Kali (Kaikottikali dance)
Pulikali (tiger dance)
Kathakali dance
Onam Sadya (a platter of traditional local cuisine) is prepared and served to family members and guests.
Pookalams (intricate flower designs) are made in households across the state. stunning Snake Boat Race, and unique Kaikottikali dance.
On the Pamba River, the renowned AranmulaVallamkali (snake boat race competition) is organised.
Context: A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck northeast Afghanistan. A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck northeast Afghanistan. The quake originated at a shallow depth of 8 km, making the surface shaking extremely intense and destructive.
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Why are India, Afghanistan and Pakistan vulnerable to deadly Earthquakes?
Why are India, Afghanistan and Pakistan vulnerable to deadly Earthquakes?
The region has experienced devastating earthquakes in the past :
2001 Bhuj Earthquake (India)
2005 Earthquake (Pakistan-administered Kashmir)
2015 Hindu Kush Earthquake (Afghanistan)
2023 Herat Earthquake (Afghanistan)
2025 Afghanistan
Reasons for frequent Earthquakes in the Region:
Tectonic Stress: The region lies on the collision boundary of Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate. The Indian Plate is moving northward at about 5 cm per year, colliding with the Eurasian Plate. This tectonic stress causes frequent earthquakes along active fault lines, especially in the Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountains.
Delamination of Indian Plate: Recent studies reveal that the Indian Plate is splitting into two, with the lower part detaching and sinking into the Earth’s mantle (a process called delamination). In the Himalayan collision zone, delamination results in fractures that increase stress in the Earth’s crust, raising the likelihood of seismic events.
Active Fault Lines: Presence of major faults like the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT), Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), Chaman Fault (Pakistan-Afghanistan border), and Karakoram Fault. Sudden slip along these faults releases massive seismic energy.
Geological and Topographical Factors: Young fold mountains (Himalayas & Hindu Kush) are geologically unstable and continue to deform under tectonic pressure. The presence of steep slopes, deep valleys, and thick sedimentary deposits amplifies seismic waves. Plains such as the Indo-Gangetic basin are prone to soil liquefaction during major tremors.
Role of Climate Change: Rising global temperatures are causing accelerated glacier melt in the Himalayas, with up to 80% of glaciers projected to disappear by 2100. The loss of glacial weight leads to isostatic rebound, which shifts the earth’s crust and triggers quakes. Meltwater seeps into the ground, reducing friction along fault lines, thereby making slippage more likely.
Thus, while tectonics remain the primary driver, climate change acts as a risk multiplier.
