Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

A day to give respect, a day to spread happiness. We live our lives and we often say life is a celebration. We celebrate various days in terms of festivals, our culture, heritage, traditional values, and upliftment in the glittering eyes of youth. Rather than those days how many days in a year do we celebrate to give respect to every sort of community celebrated as important/national/international days but what happens before and after that duration of one-day celebration ? ? For example our life before and after the celebration of our one day that is our birthday. A few days we know and a few days we are not at all aware because we are not focusing on the specialty of those days we just blindly follow some trends which become trendy nowadays like we all know mother's day, father's day and even valentine's day rather than that do we know or try to remember importance or values of others day too apart from our national patriotic days ?? 

Have a look at the list of important days:

  • 01 January New Year’s Day, Global Family Day
  • 04 January World Braille Day
  • 06 January World War Orphans Day
  • 08 January African National Congress Foundation Day
  • 09 January NRI Day (Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas)
  • 10 January World Hindi Day
  • 11 January National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, National Road Safety Week starts, Death Anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri
  • 12 January National Youth Day
  • 14 January Makar Sankranti, Lohri Day, Pongal
  • 15 January Indian Army Day
  • 18 January National Immunization Day (Polio Day)
  • 23 January Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's Birthday
  • 24 January National Girl Child Day
  • 25 January National Tourism Day, National Voters Day
  • 26 January Republic Day of India, International Customs Day
  • 27 January International Holocaust Day, International Day of Commemoration
  • 28 January Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai, Data Protection Day
  • 30 January World Leprosy Eradication Day, Mahatma Gandhi’s Martyrdom Day (Martyr’s Day)
  • 01 February Indian Coast Guard Day
  • 02 February World Wetlands Day
  • 04 February World Cancer Day, National Day of Sri Lanka
  • 06 February International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
  • 08 February Safer Internet Day (second day of the second week of February)
  • 10 February National De-worming Day
  • 11 February International Day of Women and Girls in Science, World Day of the Sick
  • Second Sunday of February World Marriage Day
  • 12 February National Productivity Day, Darwin Day, Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
  • 13 February World Radio Day, National Women's Day (Sarojini Naidu’s Birth Anniversary)
  • 14 February Valentine's Day
  • 20 February World Day of Social Justice
  • 21 February International Mother Language Day
  • 24 February Central Excise Day
  • 27 February World NGO Day, World Sustainable Energy Day
  • 28 February National Science Day
  • 28 or 29 February Rare Disease Day
  • 01 March Zero Discrimination Day, World Civil Defense Day
  • 03 March World Wildlife Day, World Hearing Day
  • 04 March National Security Day
  • 08 March International Women’s Day
  • 09 March No Smoking Day (Second Wednesday of March)
  • 10 March CISF Raising Day
  • 10 March (Second Thursday of March) World Kidney Day
  • 14 March International Day of Action for Rivers, Pi Day
  • 15 March World Consumer Rights Day
  • 16 March National Vaccination Day
  • 18 March Ordnance Factories Day (India)
  • 20 March International Day of Happiness, World Sparrow Day
  • 21 March World Forestry Day, World Down Syndrome Day, World Poetry Day
  • 22 March World Water Day, Bihar Day
  • 23 March World Meteorological Day
  • 24 March World Tuberculosis (TB) Day
  • 27 March World Theatre Day
  • 01 April Orissa Day, Prevention of Blindness week
  • 02 April World Autism Awareness Day
  • 04 April International Day for Mine Awareness
  • 05 April National Maritime Day
  • 07 April World Health Day
  • 10 April World Homeopathy Day
  • 11 April National Safe Motherhood Day, National Pet Day
  • 13 April Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
  • 17 April World Hemophilia Day
  • 18 April World Heritage Day
  • 19 April World Liver Day
  • 21 April Secretaries' Day, National Civil Service Day
  • 22 April World Earth Day
  • 23 April World Book and Copyright Day
  • 24 April National Panchayati Day
  • 25 April World Malaria Day
  • 26 April World Intellectual Property Day
  • 28 April World Day for Safety and Health at Work
  • 29 April International Dance Day
  • 30 April Ayushman Bharat Diwas
  • 01 May International Labour Day, Maharashtra Day
  • 03 May Press Freedom Day
  • 04 May Coal miner’s day, International Firefighters Day
  • 1st Sunday of May World Laughter Day
  • 1st Tuesday of May World Asthma Day
  • 2nd Sunday of May Mother’s Day
  • 07 May World Athletics Day
  • 08 May World Red Cross Day, World Thalassemia Day
  • 11 May National Technology Day
  • 12 May International Nurses Day
  • 14 May World Migratory Day
  • 15 May International Day of the Family
  • 17 May World Telecommunication Day, World Hypertension Day
  • 18 May World AIDS Vaccine Day, International Museum Day
  • 21 May National Anti-terrorism Day
  • 22 May International Day for Biological Diversity
  • 24 May Commonwealth Day
  • 31 May Anti-Tobacco Day
  • 01 June World Milk Day
  • 03 June World Bicycle Day
  • 04 June International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
  • 05 June World Environment Day
  • 07 June World Food Safety Day
  • 08 June World Ocean Day, World Brain Tumor Day
  • 12 June Anti-Child Labor Day
  • 13 June International Albinism Awareness Day
  • 14 June World Blood Donor Day
  • 15 June World Wind Day
  • 20 June World Refugee day
  • 21 June International day of yoga, World Music Day, World Hydrography Day
  • 3rd Sunday of June Father’s Day
  • 23 June United Nation’s public service day
  • 23 June United Nations Public Service Day, International Olympic Day
  • 26 June International Day against Drug abuse & Illicit Trafficking
  • 01 July National Doctor’s Day, Canada Day, Chartered Accountants’ Day
  • 02 July World UFO Day
  • 04 July Independence Day of USA
  • 06 July World Zoonoses Day
  • 11 July World Population Day
  • 12 July World Malala day, National Simplicity Day
  • 18 July International Nelson Mandela Day
  • 28 July World Nature Conservation Day, World Hepatitis Day
  • 29 July International Tiger Day
  • 01 August World Wide Web Day
  • 06 August Hiroshima Day
  • 07 August International Friendship Day (first Sunday), National Handloom Day
  • 09 August International Day of World’s Indigenous People, Nagasaki Day, Quit India Day
  • 12 August International Youth Day, World Elephant Day
  • 14 August Independence Day of Pakistan
  • 15 August Independence Day of India
  • 19 August World Photography Day
  • 20 August Sadbhavna Diwas, World Mosquito Day
  • 23 August International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and Abolition
  • 26 August International Dog Day
  • 29 August National Sports Day, Telugu Language Day
  • 30 August Small Industry Day
  • 02 September Coconut Day
  • 05 September Teachers’ Day
  • 08 September International Literacy Day
  • 14 September Hindi day
  • 15 September Engineers’ Day, International Day of Democracy
  • 16 September World Ozone Day, International Day for Preservation
  • 21 September Alzheimer’s Day; Day for Peace & Non-violence (UN)
  • 22 September Rose Day (Welfare of Cancer patients)
  • 23 September International Day of Sign Languages
  • 26 September Day of the Deaf, World Contraception Day
  • 27 September World Tourism Day, World Maritime Day
  • 30 September International Translation Day
  • Fourth Sunday of September World Rivers Day
  • 01 October International Day for the Elderly
  • 02 October Gandhi Jayanthi, International Day of Non-Violence
  • 03 October World Habitat Day (First Monday)
  • 04 October World Animal Welfare Day
  • 08 October Indian Air Force Day
  • 09 October World Post Office day
  • 10 October National Post Day, World Mental Health Day
  • 11 October International Girl Child Day
  • 12 October World Arthritis Day
  • 13 October UN International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
  • 14 October World Standards Day
  • 15 October World White Cane Day (guiding the Blind), World Students Day
  • 16 October World Food Day
  • 20 October World Statistics Day
  • 24 October UN Day, World Development Information Day
  • 30 October World Thrift Day
  • 31 October National Unity Day
  • 01 November World Vegan Day
  • 05 November World Tsunami Day
  • 07 November Infant Protection Day, National Cancer Awareness Day
  • 09 November Legal Services Day
  • 10 November Transport Day
  • 14 November Children’s Day (Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday), Diabetes Day
  • 17 November National Epilepsy Day
  • 18 November World Adult Day
  • 19 November World Citizen Day
  • 20 November Africa Industrialization Day
  • 21 November World Television Day
  • 29 November International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People
  • 01 December World Aids Day
  • 02 December World Computer Literacy Day, International day of abolition of slavery, National Pollution Control Day
  • 03 December International Day of Disabled People
  • 04 December Navy Day
  • 07 December Indian Armed Forces Flag Day, International Civil Aviation Day
  • 09 December International day against corruption
  • 10 December Human Right Day
  • 11 December International Mountain day
  • 14 December World Energy Conservation Day
  • 18 December Minorities Rights Day (India), International Migrants Day
  • 19 December Goa’s Liberation Day
  • 22 December National Mathematics Day
  • 23 December Kisan Divas

So many days!! Are you amazed by viewing those days which you never thought of ?? Most of the time I used to hear from elders that these days' celebrations did not belong to our culture impact of western culture so I keeps on thinking about what is the worth of those important days which are celebrated all over the world without thinking no matter from which country its arises to flow. 

Every culture, nation, and tradition has developed its own unique ways of honoring special occasions. There is a common thread of themes that connects each and every one of them. We will see that all of these occasions center on universal human experiences such as love, sadness, joy, reverence, success, and sacrifice. There are deep underlying needs that drive us to engage in celebrations. As a result, we have found so many wonderful ways to meet these needs and create more meaning in our lives. The main reason we celebrate is to honor an important detail in our life and share that special moment with the people we love. Special occasions bring people together in unity, harmony, and peace. Celebrating with friends, colleagues, and loved ones can make us forget the troubles and stress of life. It allows us to take a break, be happy and enjoy the moment. There is a saying that goes, “you only live once,” which is so true. You do only live once, so you may as well celebrate the occasions that come your way. Celebrating occasions is a way of showing appreciation to yourself and others for these special moments in life. It can be said that any moment that makes your heart tingle or tugs at your emotions, then it is worth celebrating. People celebrate occasions for all kinds of different reasons. These can include, being happy, sad, thankful, grateful, and even surprised. When people are surprised, it is usually because something unexpected happened or they are unsure about something. 

India is a country where people of diverse cultures and religions live together in peace and harmony. Many festivals are celebrated in different parts of India. There are festivals for seasons and religions. There are also National Festivals, like Independence Day, Republic Day, and Gandhi Jayanti, that we all celebrate to show our patriotism and unity as a nation. The list which I introduced to you in the earlier part of the article these are important days that we celebrate every year for some special purpose. Some of these are celebrated only in India and others are celebrated worldwide. But do we ever realize why we celebrate such days without know knowing their worth in our lives, without knowing their origin, its history at least for our knowledge or the peace of our heart that why we follow such days ?? Do we ever try to understand what is the hidden message in those special dates to celebrate ?? Now I discuss some days with you than surely you try to understand the value of every day which celebrate as national or international days.

World Environment Day aim:

  1. Give environmental issues worldwide attention.
  2. Encourage and empower people to become partners in working for the environment.
  3. Promote an understanding that communities can change the attitudes of others towards environmental issues.
  4. Promote partnership among countries to ensure a safer future for all.
  5. Have the mass media like television, radio, and newspapers to write and report enthusiastically on the environment.

Literacy Day aim:

Events are held throughout the week that focuses attention on worldwide literacy issues and promote worldwide literacy. Almost 875 million of the world’s adults do not know how to read or write, of which nearly two-thirds are women. More than 110 million children have no access to formal education. With the development of new technologies/ the gap between rich and poor countries is growing wider. 

  1. Generate public opinion in favour of the struggle against illiteracy.
  2. Primary education for all the children of the country.
  3. Promoting adult literacy and adult education.

International yoga day aim:

It is the time to tap into the power of yoga and solidarity more than ever. The ancient practice can help you fight the pandemic and turn around your quarantine period into a more celebratory one. 

  1. Yoga boosts immunity:  Regular practice also reduces anxiety, making you less susceptible to viral infections.
  2. Stay calm with yoga: The unpredictable nature of the current time and the continuous inflow of negative news can give us jitters every day. At such a time, yoga can relax you and save your mind from anxiety and fear.
  3. Beat fatigue: Yoga can rejuvenate you and help you stay energized during this tiresome time.
  4. Your ‘me’ time: Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar suggests this period is the ideal time to slow down and cool down; to let go and relax.
  5. Upskill yourself: Yoga is a tool that can help you manage your mind - an essential skill in today’s world.

People of different communities, races, nationalities, and gender can experience the same stillness and inner peace through yoga.

International dance day aim:

International Dance Day is celebrated every year on April 29 to promote the importance and relevance of dance as an art form and to celebrate the various forms of dance around the world. The day also marks the birth anniversary of French dancer and modern ballet master and creator Jean-Georges Noverre. Dancing not only relieves stress but also brings many health benefits.

  1. Improves your strength and balance: Dance increases the stability of the body and is very effective in improving physical fitness and balance. Quick jumps work all of your muscles, help you stabilize, control your body, and improve your posture.
  2. Reduces stress and enhances your mood: Dance is the ultimate stress buster. It keeps anxiety and depression far away and increases your self-esteem. The art of dance moreover boosts your energy and keeps you charged and calm.
  3. Improves your cardiovascular health: It reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke by balancing your heart rate and improving your endurance. Regular dance in the heart balances your heart rate and lowers your cholesterol levels.
  4. Helps to lose weight: If you are trying to lose weight but hate going to the gym, then dancing is the go-to way for you. One hour of dancing can burn 300,800 calories for the average person. Zumba, aerobics, and salsa are all forms of dance and exercise.
  5. Boosts your memory: Dancing strengthens your memory and prevents mental illnesses such as memory loss and dementia. Dance is a type of aerobic exercise that can prevent loss of volume in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that controls memory.

World marriage day aim:

I am surprised to know this kind of day exists. Have you already heard about such a day or for you also this something new ?? 

World Marriage Day is celebrated every year on the second Sunday in February. World Marriage Day officially began in 1983 in the United States of America. The purpose of World Marriage Day is to emphasize the beauty of marriage and to honor husbands and wives for their faithfulness and sacrifices. World Marriage Day highlights the promise of a marital union and the beauty of being a lawfully wedded couple under the eyes of Christ / God / Supreme power. It is an initiative that aims to improve the married life of struggling couples. World Marriage Day honors the beauty of nuptial faithfulness, devotion, sacrifice, commitment, and joy. World Marriage Day traces its origin to 1981 when married couples in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, asked the mayor of the city, the governor of the State, and the Bishop of the church to proclaim February 14 (St. Valentine’s Day) as We Believe in Marriage Day. The following year — in 1982 — 43 governors in the U.S. approved and officially announced the day as We Believe in Marriage Day. World Marriage Week still takes place each year from February 7 — February 14. 

WOW, valentines week actually is a celebration of marriage week. This knowledge made me think differently about valentines week. That week symbolizes the connection between two souls so purely and what we misunderstood about the whole scenario with incomplete knowledge of us. 

Valentine's day aim:

 Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine, a Catholic priest who lived in Rome in the 3rd Century. Claudius believed that Roman soldiers should be completely devoted to Rome and therefore passed a law preventing them from marrying. St Valentine began to marry these soldiers in secret Christian ceremonies and this was the beginning of his reputation for believing in the importance of love. Eventually, Valentine was found out and jailed for his crimes against Claudius. Valentine was executed/hanged till death on 14 February in the year 270. Strange to know how we celebrate it after knowing its history. 

The practice of sending love messages developed into people sending special cards expressing their affection. Cards would usually contain sentimental verse, proclaiming the beauty of the receiver and how much they were loved. Cards were decorated with pictures of cupid, hearts, and flowers and trimmed with lace and ribbon. While Valentine's Day is celebrated in most countries, different cultures have developed their own traditions for this festival. In some parts of the world, Valentine's Day is observed as a day for expressing love between family members and friends, rather than that of romantic couples. Some traditions include leaving lollies and gifts for children and others include acts of appreciation between friends. Many couples choose to celebrate Valentine's Day with dinner, a picnic, or a special home-cooked meal. Marriage proposals are also popular on Valentine's Day, and it is often chosen as the perfect day to express their love and commitment. Some marriage proposals are delivered very creatively, such as after climbing to the top of a mountain or posting a message on a billboard. Whatever the method, marriage proposals made on Valentine's Day are generally romantic and memorable.

So sweet to know and so beautiful to feel the pure essence of love and connection of a true lover on such a day of valentines !! 

But as I said earlier without knowledge we actually don't know the worth of those days and we have where are the youth going to fall. It is shocking to know after reading many articles of news regarding valentines day. It was just a day of the emotionless event, a brand new party sensation, just in the race to prove themselves a modern and impact of western culture without understanding the real roots of their culture and tradition.  This day nowadays just became a day of grudges of humiliation in terms of love with a fake world of personalities nothing else. It's shocking but most of the rape cases got registered every year on valentines eve !! Most of the missing girl's complaints were filed on the night of valentines night !! And in response what we mostly listen to fault is of girls, their dressing sense !! What about boys ?? What about full youth who celebrate that night without knowing the sensitivity of that day/date worth? If we are celebrating such days there should be some awareness too which youth should follow. 

Every special day has its own vibes every year it's us and our perspective and how we deal with it, especially with knowledge, awareness, and alertness. I know I discussed very few facts and figures with you but now it's time for you to make yourself aware of such important days the way I did !!    

.    .    .

Discus