Varda
174567 Varda is a binary trans-Neptunian planetoid of the resonant hot classical population of the Kuiper belt, located in the outermost region of the Solar System. Its moon, Ilmare, was discovered in 2009. Varda was discovered in March 2006, using imagery dated from 21 June 2003. Varda is the queen of the Valar, creator of the stars, one of the most powerful servants of almighty Eru Iluvatar in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional mythology.
Red Yao people celebrate annual Clothes Drying Festival in Longsheng. Photo: Ruptly
Residents from Red Yao ethnic group hanging out their traditional costumes under the sun to seek fortune during the 'Clothes Drying' festival in the town of Longji, Longsheng County, Guangxi Province.
Venus (social activities, beauty) trine Eris (abundance ceremonies, inclusiveness of minority cultures)) trine Varda (rose color, pink, blessings (local Yao people spread their clothing outdoors, seeking fortune)).
Footage filmed on Tuesday features locals adorn the sun-soaked landscape, showcasing their traditional costumes on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month.
"I feel the scene is very astonishing. I am also very proud of the rich traditional culture of our country and the inclusiveness of minority cultures. When I saw the scene of drying clothes, I thought it was very beautiful," said a visitor Wu Gu.
Pink is the colour! Pakistan launches its first women-only bus service. Photo: Ruptly
Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon launched the country's first women-only bus service on Wednesday in Karachi, in a bid to offer women a safer environment away from harassment.
Venus (female archetype) quincunx Ceres (issues of taking care of people) quincunx Rhiphonos (security protection). Sun (those in authority (Sindh Transport Minister)) bi-quintile Moon (women, protection) semi- square Varda (rose color, pink).
A ceremony hosted by Inam Memon and Oscar Award winner Sharmin Obaid Chanai took place to inaugurate the public transportation service, as dozens of women joined the celebration.
"It is part of the vision of the Pakistan People's Party, we have just begun today and I know this is not enough, we have to expedite and spread (this service)," said Inam Memon.
Secret Australian marijuana facility exposes location after turning sky pink. Photo: Stuff
A mysterious pink glow illuminated the sky above the Australian town of Mildura on Wednesday evening, leaving residents wondering if they were witnessing an alien invasion, misplaced northern lights or some sort of solar flare.
Uranus (bizzare ("very bizarre, this huge pink light in the sky")) bi-quintile Varda (rose color, pink (hot pink light)). Ceres (gardening, growing, herbs, horticulture, plants (medicinal cannabis facility)) trine Borasisi (open-minded (alien invasion, misplaced northern lights or some sort of solar flare)). Psyche (brain states (trying not to freak out)) trine Arrokoth (sky (mysterious pink glow illuminated the sky)).
Local resident Tammy Szumowski and her family thought the world might be coming to an end.
"I was just like 'what the hell is that?' It is very bizarre, this huge pink light in the sky," she said. "I'm trying not to freak out because I've got my girls in the car."
Chamayavilakku Festival, a unique festival celebrated in Kerala, where men dress up as women.
The Chamayavilakku festival in Kerala, India is celebrated on the 10th and 11th of the Malayalam month of Meenam, the second half of March. Attendees dress as women, carry traditional lamps, and walk in procession to honour deities and give blessings to the people.
Mercury (speech (incantations)) square Varda (blessings, incantations intended as blessings to self and others). Vesta (cultural values) conjunct Chariklo (social boundaries, especially those of a cross gender or sexual nature (men dressing up as women during a special ritual)) square Zhulong (torches, lanterns (holding a lamp with five wicks)). Varda stations retrograde.
It is a unique festival and probably the only one of its kind in the world, where men dress up in traditional women's dress and offer prayers.
Honen Festival (Tagata Jinja Shrine)
A strange festival involving the dedication of a giant symbol of manhood made of Japanese cypress.
Sun (men) square Vesta (shrine). Eros (reproductive organs) sextile Varda (blessings, bestower of blessings). Nessus (prosperity ceremonies) quincunx Elatus (ceremonial magic).
The festival is held every March 15, and in it a phallus, newly carved every year from Japanese cypress and more than 60 cm in diameter and 2 m long, is carried on a portable shrine by parade men of a "unlucky age" and offered to said shrine with prayers for a good harvest, the flourishing of all natural things and prosperous descendants. The sight of all this has led to the proceedings becoming widely known as one of the world's strangest festivals, and on the day the temple grounds are filled with visitors from Japan and overseas.
Canadian town sorry for pink tap water. Photo: Facebook
A Canadian town has apologised after a water treatment plant turned the water supply pink. Residents of Onoway, Alberta, complained to the town office when taps began running pink water on Monday.
Sun (Mayor Dale Krasnow) & Mercury (communication) square & Moon (domestic water supply) opposite Varda (rose color, pink).
The mayor said it was the unfortunate side-effect of a common water-treatment chemical, potassium permanganate.
The chemical is commonly used to remove iron and hydrogen sulphide from water, and the town office said it got into the reservoir when a valve malfunctioned during "normal line flushing and filter backwashing".
The reservoir was drained, however some of the chemical still made it into the distribution system.
Discovery
2003 MW12/174567 Varda is a trans-Neptunian object with an absolute magnitude of 3.5. It is highly likely to be a dwarf planet. It was discovered on June 21, 2003 by Jeffrey A. Larsen with the Spacewatch telescope. Names for Varda and its moon were announced on 16 January 2014.
Varda was one of the Valar, a group of heavenly beings similar to Archangels. Also known as "Queen of the stars", she was said to be too beautiful for words; within her face radiated the light of Eru Iluvatar, the "One All-Father" God. She resided with her husband Manwe, with whom she shared a complementary power.
