A celestial celebration: Moon Day in Kolkata

July 20 is not just any day, it’s Moon Day—a galactic celebration of humanity’s monumental leap onto our lunar neighbour. Dr Debiprasad Duari, former director, Kolkata Birla Planetarium reflects on the significance of Moon Day, stating, "It commemorates man’s prolonged wish to land on the Moon." He adds, "In today’s world, that mission has evolved into a quest to utilise the Moon for human civilisation. The thought now is how man can stay on the moon for some time, and it’s a good thing since Earth has limited resources." Dr Duari also highlights the importance of staying informed, saying, "The Internet is a powerhouse of information, and one should utilise it to learn about the moon's formation and its gradual movement away from the Earth each year."Why Moon Day?On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history by setting foot on the moon for the first time. This celestial milestone has since been celebrated with great fanfare, and in 2021, the United Nations officially declared it as International Moon Day. Today, the day is about celebrating every nation’s moonshot ambitions and raising awareness about sustainable lunar exploration.A look at India’s contribution to lunar explorationIndia has made significant strides in lunar exploration, adding its own chapters to this cosmic saga. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made history with the Chandrayaan missions. Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, was India's first lunar probe, and it made a groundbreaking discovery of water molecules on the moon’s surface. Chandrayaan-2 followed in 2019, aiming to explore the moon's south polar region—a feat that showcases India's growing prowess in space technology. Most recently, Chandrayaan-3, launched in 2023, furthered India's lunar ambitions by successfully deploying a rover to conduct in-depth surface analysis. These missions have not only contributed valuable scientific data but also positioned India as a key player in the global space community.The Moon Village Association’s cosmic initiativeThe Moon Village Association (MVA), a collective of lunar enthusiasts, proposed International Moon Day and the UN embraced the idea. Ever since, the MVA has been at the helm, orchestrating lunar festivities across the globe. This year’s theme, Illuminating the Shadows, invites us to explore the moon’s hidden depths and our future lunar endeavours. This year, the event is taking place in Mumbai, just as it did in Kolkata two years ago. The celebration began on July 17 and will continue up till July 20, culminating in a cultural event to wrap up the Moon Masti festivities.What to Do on Moon Day in Kolkata?