Kolkata Hosts International Day of Light Celebrations at Birla Industrial & Technological Museum

Kolkata: The International Day of Light is being celebrated with its usual pomp and grandeur at the Birla Industrial & Technological Museum (BITM) from May 15 to 17, 2026. This global UNESCO initiative, officially observed on May 16, highlights the crucial role of light in science, culture, art, education, and sustainable development. It marks the anniversary of physicist Theodore Maiman’s first successful laser operation in 1960, emphasizing light's impact on modern communications, medicine, and energy.

The inaugural presentation, “DeLight, Light-Science-Action,” was delivered by Mr. Tarun Kumar Das, Head of the Education Section at BITM. His engaging and informative talk, enriched with practical demonstrations and a touch of humor, captivated students, media, and other spectators. Mr. Das explained fundamental characteristics of light, including speed, rectilinear propagation, wave-particle duality, and wave behaviors such as wavelength, frequency, reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, polarization, and interactions with matter like transmission, absorption, and dispersion.

The event’s innovative and creative approach makes it a highly educative and must-see experience for all attendees.