SPACE India’s Astro Carnival, organized in collaboration with Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai marked the significance of the United Nations International Asteroid Day on June 30. Over 1,000 participants attended the event that proved to be both informative and enjoyable, filled with fun and excitement at the Museum’s Education Centre. International Asteroid Day is an annual global event that is held on June 30, the anniversary of the ‘Tunguska event’ in 1908 – Siberia, Russia.
Astro Carnival is a global awareness campaign that engaged children and adults while offering diverse activities to spark curiosity and promote meaningful discussions. The event aimed to raise awareness about the potential dangers of asteroids and the necessary measures to protect the Earth, its families, communities, and future generations from catastrophic impacts teaching a deeper understanding of space, astronomy, and asteroid awareness.
Arvind Paranjpye, the Director of Nehru Planetarium, Mumbai, and Swati Kalwar, the former CEO of the Energy Swaraj Foundation) graced the event as distinguished dignitaries. Their interactions with the participants added a new dimension to the event’s prominence. Through this, SPACE India has brought Astronomy and Space Science experiences to Mumbai city.
Arvind Paranjpye commented: “I am delighted to be at SPACE India’s Astro Carnival. This is a commendable initiative. The team has traveled all the way from Delhi to Mumbai. I extend my best wishes to Dr. Sachin Bahmba, Founder of SPACE Group, and Ms. Shalini Bahmba, Co-Founder of SPACE Group. Their outreach programs have made a significant impact.”
Participants received insights on the environmental consequences of human activities and the importance of protecting our ecosystem. The event highlighted the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals, aligning with the mission of Asteroid Day to teach about our planet and safeguard its inhabitants. The students were informed about the asteroid impact hazard and the crisis communication actions to be taken at the global level in case of a credible near-earth object threat.
The participants were awestruck by the exciting activities, including Comet Making, a Solar System Hunt, Telescopic Observation of the Sun, an Astrophotography Exhibition, Kits, and Educational Aids Display, an AR & VR Segment, a Puzzle making Competition, an Astronomy-Based Quiz, and a Documentary Screening.
