Birju Maharaj, Michelle Obama’s Birthday Jig, Tonga Volcano: This Week’s Social Media Trends
Here's a look at this week's social media trends!
From the passing of world-renowned Kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj and the Tonga volcano eruption to love in the time of lockdown in China, here’s a quick recap of what caught netizens’ attention this week.
On Monday, Padma Vibhushan awardee Pandit Birju Maharaj passed away.
The 83-year-old was a dancer, composer, singer and an exponent of the Lucknow “Kalka-Bindadin” Gharana of Kathak dance. He was a descendant of the Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, including his two uncles—Pandit Shambhu Maharaj and Pandit Lachhu Maharaj—and his father and guru, Pandit Acchan Maharaj.
Fondly called ‘Maharajji’, actors, musicians across the globe took to social media to pay their respects to the legend.
Collarwali Baghin, the famous tigress of Madhya Pradesh’s Pench Tiger Reserve, succumbed to age-related complications on Jan. 15.
She had earned the tag of ‘supermom’ for giving birth to 29 cubs during her lifetime, and single-handedly saving a national park.
The forest officials performed her last rites.
In other news, a dramatic eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano devastated the South Pacific nation of Tonga.
It caused tsunamis in Tonga, Fiji, and along the rim of the Pacific Ocean, including damaging tsunamis in New Zealand, Japan, the U.S., Chile, and Peru. Besides, it led to an oil spill off the coast of Peru.
Satellite images released after the volcanic eruption revealed early indications of the damage caused, but the true extent of the havoc caused is uncertain as communication with the island remains disrupted.
Crews dressed in hazmat suits try to contain the wreckage with cleaning underway.
In a clip, which has now gone viral on social media, Tori Yorgey, a reporter at WSAZ-TV, was hit by an SUV on live TV but she rebounded to finish the shoot.
“I just got hit by a car, but I am okay,” she said. “That woman was so nice... She didn’t mean to, it was an accident, I know it was, and I’m OK, everything’s fine.”
The viral clip shared by Timothy Burke has more than 3.9 million views on Twitter, and is flooded with messages praising Yorgey. A few, however, criticised the channel’s way of handling the incident.
In another shocking video captured on a CCTV, a man deliberately pushed a woman in front of an oncoming train in Brussels. The incident occurred at Rogier metro station in the Belgian capital on Friday evening, according to news website RT.
Fortunately, the woman escaped without injuries as the train stopped in the nick of time. Bystanders rushed to help her, but the perpetrator fled.
The Brussels' public prosecutor's office, however, said he was arrested soon afterwards at another metro station and has been charged with attempted homicide.
An investigation has been launched into the incident to determine the suspect's motives. A psychiatrist has also been appointed to verify his condition.
The former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated her 58th birthday on Jan. 18.
She thanked her fans and followers for their good wishes with a video message on social media. The video was reshared across various social media platforms by her supporters.
In case you’re wondering if anything good came out of the global lockdowns...
China’s state media has been buzzing with news about people being trapped in a ‘never-ending date’ due to the sudden lockdown rules.
This is the story of Zhao Xiaoqing and Zhao Fei, who never expected their blind date to turn into a real-life rom-com. The sudden lockdown in northern China’s Shaanxi province forced the couple into spending a month locked in his home, along with his parents, and sparks flew!
Now, they’re planning to get engaged. And, the whole world is watching.
This week was also about father-daughter duos.
Check out these father-daughter duos sharing adorable videos of their great partnership and relationship.
And then there was this mom. Mic drop!