Children's Day is celebrated on November 14 in India, and it not only honours children's rights, but also Jawaharlal Nehru's legacy.
Children's Day is celebrated in India on November 14 and it is a tribute to India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who was fondly known as "Chacha (Uncle) Nehru" among children. Since he advocated for the rights of children and their education, the day is celebrated to increase awareness about the correct care and well-being of children. In fact, it was in 1957 that November 14 was officially declared Children's Day in India by a special government edict.
However, interestingly, Children’s Day is not only celebrated in India, but also across the world, albeit, on different dates and with various cultural and historical significance. Let’s explore how it is observed across major countries in the world:
Since 2009, International Children's Day has been observed across Bangladesh by creating awareness about children's rights on November 20 – Universal Children's Day by the United Nations. However, Bangladesh started celebrating Children's Day on March 17 as well to mark the birthday of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In China, Children's Day is celebrated on June 1 and is formally known as "the June 1 International Children's Day". On this day, schools usually conduct activities such as children's performances, free movies, and allow students to have fun.
Japan's Children's Day is celebrated on May 5, and it has been a National Holiday since 1948. It is observed to celebrate the happiness of all children, and even share gratitude toward mothers. In Japan, Children's Day is marked twice a year – March 3 for girls and on May 5 for boys.
In South Korea, May 5 is officially recognised as Children's Day, and on this day, parents give presents to their children, and take them on excursions to zoos, museums, and various entertainment zones.
In Nepal, Children's Day is observed on Bhadra 29 according to the Nepali Calendar (August–September). Earlier, Children's Day was celebrated on Bhadra 4 on the birthday of Queen Mother Ratna Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.
In Sri Lanka, Children's Day is marked on 1 October, and it is known as 'Loka Lama Dinaya' in Sinhala.
Thailand National Children's Day is observed on the second Saturday in January, and on this day, children are given the opportunity to have fun. The day was established as a holiday in 1955.
In Poland, Children's Day is observed on June 1, and coincides with the beginning of meteorological summer.
In the UK, Children's Day was set up in 1954 by the United Nations General Assembly, and is celebrated as "a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children".
