Brief description:

January is more than just the beginning of a new year and the 1st month in both Gregorian and Julian calendar named after Janus, the Roman god of all beginnings, with a duration of 31 days. This month has historical, cultural, and awareness days that mark important milestones. Let’s embark on a journey through some of January’s noteworthy days.

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1 January – Global Family Day–

It is celebrated as a day of peace and sharing. It aims to unite and spread a message of peace by considering and promoting the idea that Earth is one Global Family to make the world a better place for everyone.

2 January- World Introvert Day-

This date is observed as World Introvert Day in order better to understand the numerous introverts all over the world. It is the ideal day to honor introverts by giving them the time and space they require.

3 January- International Mind Body Wellness Day-

This date is celebrated as International Mind-Body Wellness Day, a time to recommit to loving both our bodies and minds by putting new strategies for development and wellness into action.

4 January – World Braille Day-

This day is celebrated commemorating Louis Braille’s birthday, this day raises awareness about the importance of Braille as a means of communication for people who are blind or visually impaired. The theme for World Braille Day 2024, is “Empowering Through Inclusion and Diversity”.

5 January- National Birds Day-

On this day, National Bird Day is celebrated to raise awareness regarding the value of the birds in our ecosystem. The Avian Welfare Coalition works hard to promote awareness for birds that are captured or produced in captivity campaign.

6 January – World Day of War Orphans-

World Day of War Orphans is celebrated on the 6th of this month to create awareness about the plight of war orphans and to address the traumatic conditions faced by them.

7 January- Mahayana New Year-

This year on the 7th of this month, Buddhists from all over the world will celebrate Mahayana New Year. Mahayana is a division of Buddhist philosophies and ideologies and one of two main branches of Buddhism. This sect is primarily practiced in Northeast Asia which includes Tibet, Taiwan, Mongolia, China, Japan, and Korea.

8 January – African National Congress Foundation Day-

John Langalibalele Dube, on this day in 1912 founded the African Native National Congress (SANNC) in Bloemfontein to provide voting rights to black and mixed-race Africans further aiming to unite African people and fighting for the struggle for fundamental political, social, and economic change.

Earth’s Rotations Day:

This day is also recognized as Earth Rotation Day as on this day in 1851, the French physicist Leon Foucault proved that the Earth revolves on its axis by his demonstration.
The global theme of Earth Day in 2024 is “Planet vs Plastics”.

9 January – NRI (Non-Resident Indian) Day or Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-

NRI or Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is observed every year on the 9th to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community towards the development of India. This day also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai on this day in 1915.

10 January – World Hindi Day-

Vishwa Hindi Diwas is an annual event observed on this day. World Hindi Day was created to mark the occasion when Hindi was first spoken at the UNGA in 1949. With nearly 600 million speakers worldwide, Hindi is the third most widely spoken language in the world after Mandarin Chinese and English.

11 January – Death anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri-

Also known as the ‘Man of Peace’ globally, Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of Independent India. ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ was his slogan that made him popular in the country He actively participated in India’s freedom struggle. Though his death has been a mystery and debatable officially it is told that he died because of cardiac arrest on this day in 1966.

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

This date is observed as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day to spread awareness about the persistent issue of human trafficking. This day aims to raise awareness about the plight of human trafficking victims, as well as to promote and protect their rights.

International Thank You Day :

This day is celebrated as a simple yet powerful reminder to express gratitude, foster positivity and strengthen connections.

12 January – National Youth Day–

Since Swami Vivekananda was born on this day in 1863, this day is celebrated as his birth anniversary and is also called Swami Vivekananda Jayanti. The government observes it as Rashtriya Yuva Diwas because the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked is a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth.

13 January – Lohri Festival-

Lohri is the first festival of the year which marks the beginning of the harvest season. It is celebrated with full enthusiasm in northern India, mainly Punjab, and Haryana. Lohri festival is celebrated on 13 or 14 of this month by lighting up a bonfire and dancing around it with friends and relatives. Wheat stalk, rice, rewrite, jaggery, and popcorn are offered by the people at the bonfire.

15 January – Makar Sankranti, Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu & Pongal-

This year it will be celebrated on the 15th marking the termination of the winter season and the beginning of a new harvest season. The festival associated with Makar Sankranti is known by various names including Makara Sankranti in Kerala, Magh Bihu in Assam, Maghi Saaji in Himachal Pradesh, Maghi Sangrand in Punjab, Maghi Sangrand or Uttarain (Uttarayana) in Jammu, Sakrat in Haryana, Sakraat in Rajasthan, Sukarat in central India, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayana in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, Ghughuti in Uttarakhand, Dahi Chura in Bihar, Makar Sankranti in Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal (also called Poush Sankranti or Mokor Sonkranti).

Uttar Pradesh (also called Khichadi Sankranti), Uttarakhand (also called Uttarayani) or simply, Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,[9][10] Maghe Sankranti (Nepal), Songkran (Thailand), Thingyan (Myanmar), Mohan Songkran (Cambodia), Til Sakraat in Mithila, and Shishur Senkrath (Kashmir). On Makar Sankranti, Surya (Hindu solar deity) is worshipped along with Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi throughout India.

Indian Army Day-

Every year this day is also observed as Indian Army Day because on this day in 1949 field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief. The theme for Indian Army Day 2024 is “In Service of the Nation.”

16 January- National Startup Day–

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on 16th of this month as National Startup Day in the year 2021. Since then various programs and events have been organized by government and non-government organizations to applaud and promote the Indian startup ecosystem.

Martin Luther King Jr Day

This day is also observed as Martin Luther King Jr Day is a federal holiday in the United States that takes place on the third Monday in January. It honors the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

17th Jan- Benjamin Franklin Day-

Being the birth anniversary of Benjamin Franklin, this day is observed on the 17th of every year to honor one of the most important Founding Fathers of the United States and one of the most influential personalities of the World.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti–

It is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh and this year it falls on the 17th. He was the tenth Guru out of a total of ten Sikh Gurus. On 22 December 1666, he was born in Patna, Bihar as per the Julian calendar.

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To be continued…..

January Journals: Significant National and International Dates List part 1

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