World Cerebral Palsy Day is an annual event celebrated on October 6th to raise awareness about Cerebral Palsy (CP) and to advocate for the rights of individuals with CP. Since 2012, this global movement brings together people, families, and organizations to promote understanding, inclusion, and equal opportunities for those with the condition. The day highlights the challenges of CP and encourages supportive environments where people with the condition can thrive.
James Bond Day is celebrated annually on October 5, commemorating the world premiere of the very first 007 film, Dr. No, in 1962. The day is a global celebration of the fictional British MI6 secret agent and the enduring franchise he inspired.
Origins of James Bond Day
·
The
date was first officially recognized by Eon Productions, the company behind the
James Bond films, in 2012 for the 50th anniversary of Dr. No's
release.
·
Since
then, the day has become an annual tradition for Bond fans around the world to
honour the legacy of the film series.
Lesotho Independence Day is celebrated annually on October 4th to commemorate the day the nation gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. This public holiday marks the end of colonial rule and the beginning of self-governance for the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Historical Context
· Basutoland,
as it was then known, was initially a British protectorate established in 1868
to protect the local tribes from attacks by Boer trekkers.
· On
October 4, 1966, Basutoland formally achieved independence from Great Britain.
· The country was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho, with Moshoeshoe II as king and Leabua Jonathan as the first prime minister.
Significance
· The day
is a significant national holiday for the Basotho people, celebrating the
nation's sovereignty and self-governance.
· It honours
the legacy of King Moshoeshoe I, who founded the nation and is considered
the father of the Basotho people for his diplomacy and commitment to unity.
World Smile Day is
celebrated on the first Friday of October each year. In 2025, it is being
celebrated on October 3. It is a day to promote acts of kindness and to
encourage people to smile and make others smile.
World Smile Day is celebrated in many different ways around the world. Some people wear smiley face clothing or accessories. Others organize events such as smiley face walks or contests. Some people simply make an effort to smile more often and to make others smile as well.
Lal Bahadur Shastri, born on 2 October 1904, in Mughalsarai, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India, was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the prime minister of India from 1964 to 1966. He previously served as home minister from 1961 to 1963.
Shastri studied in East Central Railway Inter college and Harish Chandra High School, which he left to join the non-cooperation movement. He worked for the betterment of the Harijans at Muzaffarpur and dropped his caste-derived surname of "Srivastava". Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, he joined the Indian Independence movement in the 1920s. He served as the president of Servants of the People Society, founded by Lala Lajpat Rai and held prominent positions in the Indian National Congress (INC). Following Indian independence in 1947, Shastri led several union ministries under prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
As prime minister, Shastri promoted the White revolution (India), a
national campaign to increase the production and supply of milk, by supporting
the Amul milk co-operative and creating the National Dairy Development
Board. Underlining the need to boost India's food production, Shastri also
promoted the Green Revolution in India in 1965. This led to an increase in
food grain production, especially in the states of Punjab, Haryana and
Uttar Pradesh. He led the country during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965. His
slogan "Jai Jawan, jai Kisan” ("Hail to the soldier; Hail to the
farmer") became very popular during the war. The war formally ended with
the Tashkent Declaration on 10 January 1966; Shastri died the
next day.
World Vegetarian Day is observed annually
around the planet on October 1. It is a day of celebration established by the
North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and endorsed by the International
Vegetarian Union in 1978, "To promote the joy, compassion and
life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism.” It brings awareness to
the ethical, Environmental, health and humanitarian benefits of a
vegetarian lifestyle. World Vegetarian Day initiates the month of October
as Vegetarian Awareness Month, which ends with November 1, World Vegan
Day, as the end of that month of celebration. Vegetarian Awareness Month has
been known variously as "Reverence for Life" month, "Month of
Vegetarian Food", and more.
Hrishikesh Mukherjee, born on 30 September 1922, in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Kolkata, India), was an Indian film director, editor and writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of Indian cinema. Popularly known as Hrishi-da, he directed 42 films during his career spanning over four decades, and is named the pioneer of the 'middle cinema' of India. Renowned for his social films that reflected the changing middle-class ethos, Mukherjee "carved a middle path between the extravagance of mainstream cinema and the stark realism of art cinema”.
He is known for a number of films, including Anari, Satyakam, Chupke Chupke, Anupama, Anand, Abhimaan, Guddi, Gol Maal, Majhli Didi, Chaitali, Aashirwad, Bawarachi, Khubsoorat, Kisse Se Na Kehna and Namak Haraam.
He also remained the
chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and of the National
Film Development Corporation (NFDC). The Government of India honoured
him with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1999 and the Padma
Vibhushan in 2001. He received the NTR National Award in 2001 and he
also won eight Filmfare Awards.
Mehmood Ali, popularly known simply as Mehmood, born on 29 September 1932, in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India, was an Indian actor, singer, director and producer, best known for playing comic roles in Hindi films.
During his career of
more than four decades, he worked in over 300 Hindi films and was known as
Bollywood's Original Bhaijaan. Mehmood received 25 nominations for film
awards, 19 for 'Best Performance in a Comic Role', while the awards started in
1954, awards for the best comedian category started only in 1967. Prior to that
Mehmood also received 6 nominations for 'Best Supporting Actor'.
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, born on 29 September 1547 (assumed), in Alcala de Henares, Spain, was
a Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish
language and one of the world's pre-eminent novelists. He is best known
for his novel Don Quixote, a work considered as the first modern novel.
The novel has been labelled by many well-known authors as the "best book
of all time" and the
"best and most central work in world literature".
Lata Mangeshkar, born Hema Mangeshkar on 28 September 1929, in Indore, Indore State, British India, was an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Her contribution to the Indian music industry in a career spanning eight decades gained her honorific titles such as the "Queen of Melody" and "Voice of the Millennium".
Mangeshkar recorded songs in over thirty-six Indian languages and a few foreign languages, though primarily in Hindi, Bengali and Marathi. She received several accolades and honours throughout her career. In 1989, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was bestowed on her by the Government of India. In 2001, in recognition of her contributions to the nation, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna, becoming only the second singer to receive India's highest civilian honour. In 2009, France made her an Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, the country's highest civilian award.
She was the recipient of three National Film Awards, 15 Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards, four Filmfare Best Playback Awards, before declining further ones, two Filmfare Special Awards, the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award amongst others. In 1974, she became the first Indian playback singer to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England.
She
appeared in the Guiness World Records as the most recorded artist in
history before being replaced by her sister, Asha Bhosle.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy, who passed away on 27 September 1833, in Stapleton, Bristol, England, United Kingdom, aged 61, was an Indian reformer and writer who was one of the founders of the Brahmo Sabha in 1828, the precursor of the Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious reform movement in the Indian subcontinent. He has been dubbed the "Father of Indian Renaissance." He was given the title of Raja by Mughal emperor Akbar II (r. 1806–1837).
His influence was apparent in
the fields of politics, public administration, education and religion. He
was known for his efforts to abolish the practices of sati and child
marriage. Roy wrote Gaudiya Vyakaran which was the first complete
Bangla grammar written book.
World Environmental Health Day is observed annually on September 26 to raise awareness about the connection between environmental factors and human health. It was established in 2011 by the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH).
Significance and purpose
The day promotes the crucial role of environmental health in ensuring human well-being and addresses global challenges such as:
·
Pollution
(air, water, and soil)
·
Climate
change
·
Urbanization
·
Disaster
risk reduction
·
Poor
sanitation
Deendayal Upadhyaya, known by the epithet Panditji, born on 25 September 1916, in Nagla
Chandraban, Mathura, United Provinces, British India (present day Deendayal
Dham, Uttar Pradesh, India), was an Indian politician, a proponent of integral
humanism ideology and leader of the political party Bharatiya
Jana Sangh (BJS), the forerunner of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Upadhyaya
started the monthly publication Rashtra Dharma, broadly meaning
'National Duties', in the 1940s to spread the ideals of Hindutva revival. Upadhyaya
is known for drafting Jan Sangh’s official political doctrine, Integral
humanism, by including some cultural-nationalism values and his
agreement with several Gandhian socialist principles such as sarvodaya (progress
of all) and swadeshi (self-sufficiency).
Bhikhaiji Rustom Cama, known as
Madam Cama, born on 24 September 1861, in Navsari, Bombay Presidency, British
India (present day Gujarat, India), was one of the prominent figures in the
Independence movement. She unfurled one of the earliest versions of the flag
of independent India on August 22, 1907 and she was the first person to hoist
an Indian flag in a foreign nation, at the International Socialist Conference
at Stuttgart, in Germany.
On the night of Sept. 23-24,
1846, astronomers discovered Neptune, the eighth planet orbiting
around the Sun. The discovery was made based on mathematical calculations of
its predicted position due to observed perturbations in the orbit of the planet
Uranus. The discovery was made using a telescope since Neptune is too faint to
be visible to the naked eye, owing to its great distance from the Sun.
Astronomers soon discovered a moon orbiting Neptune, but it took more than a
century to discover a second one. Our knowledge of distant Neptune greatly
increased from the scientific observations made during Voyager 2’s flyby in
1989, including the discovery of five additional moons and confirmation of dark
rings orbiting the planet.
Michael Faraday, born on 22 September 1791, in Newington Butts, England, United Kingdom, was an English physicist and chemist whose many experiments contributed greatly to the understanding of electromagnetism.
Faraday,
who became one of the greatest scientists of the 19th century, began his career
as a chemist. He wrote a manual of practical chemistry that reveals his mastery
of the technical aspects of his art, discovered a number of new organic
compounds, among them benzene, and was the first to liquefy a
“permanent” gas
(i.e., one that was believed to be incapable of liquefaction). His major
contribution, however, was in the field of electricity and magnetism. He was the first to produce
an electric current from a magnetic field, invented the first electric
motor and dynamo, demonstrated the relation between electricity and chemical
bonding, discovered the effect of magnetism on light, and discovered and named diamagnetism,
the peculiar behaviour of certain substances in strong magnetic fields. He
provided the experimental, and a good deal of the theoretical, foundation upon
which James Clerk Maxwell erected classical
electromagnetic field theory.
World Alzheimer's Day is observed annually on September 21st to raise global awareness about Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The day is a call to action to address the stigma, misconceptions, and challenges faced by those living with the disease and their caregivers.
The entire month of September is also recognized as World Alzheimer's Month, with awareness campaigns and activities held around the globe.
Key focus areas of the awareness day
The day and the month are organized by Alzheimer's associations, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups worldwide to address several critical issues:
· Encouraging
early diagnosis: Recognizing
that early detection is crucial for managing the disease and improving quality
of life.
· Fighting
stigma: Challenging
the misconception that dementia is a normal part of aging and reducing the
stigma associated with the condition.
· Supporting
caregivers: Drawing
attention to the immense emotional and financial strain on caregivers and
advocating for better support systems for them.
· Promoting
prevention: Educating
the public on lifestyle choices that can support brain health and potentially
reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
· Advocating
for research: Driving
policy changes and securing funding to support ongoing research into treatment,
prevention, and, ultimately, a cure.
With its coppery coat, striped tail,
and shy demeanour, the red panda may be one of the most captivating animals of
the Himalayas, but its charm masks a grim reality. Fewer than 10,000 red pandas
remain in the wild today. To spotlight this endangered species and build global
momentum for its protection, International Red Panda Day 2025 is being
celebrated on Saturday, September 20 (3rd Saturday of September).
Launched in 2010 by the Red Panda Network, this day has grown into a global
campaign involving zoos, schools, and communities worldwide. What began as a
grassroots awareness effort is now a powerful force in the international fight
to prevent this species from vanishing silently into extinction.
Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande, who passed away on 19 September 1936, in Bombay, aged 76, was an Indian musicologist who wrote the first modern treatise on Hindustani classical music, an art which had been propagated for centuries mostly through oral traditions. During those earlier times, the art had undergone several changes, rendering the raga grammar documented in scant old outdated texts.
Ragas used to be classified into Raga (male), Ragini (female), and Putra
(children). Bhatkhande reclassified them into the currently used thaat system.
He noted that several ragas did not conform to their description in ancient
Sanskrit texts. He explained the ragas in an easy-to-understand language and
composed several bandishes which explained the grammar of the
ragas.
Chile Independence Day, celebrated as Fiestas Patrias, occurs on September 18th each year, commemorating the 1810 declaration of independence from Spanish rule. This two-day holiday, often called the "Dieciocho," involves traditional music, dancing like the cueca, food such as empanadas and anticuchos, and gatherings at festive spaces called fondas and ramdas.
What it commemorates
·
September 18, 1810:
This date marks the first governing body in Chile, a pivotal step toward independence from Spain.
· War of Independence:
The declaration began an eight-year war, with full independence officially proclaimed on February 12, 1818.
Key aspects of the celebration
· Fiestas Patrias: A beloved national holiday filled with vibrant festivities and traditional cultural practices.
· Dieciocho: The name for the celebration, meaning "eighteenth," after the key date.
· Traditional food: Attendees enjoy empanadas, anticuchos (grilled meat skewers), and the local drink, terremoto.
· Music and dance: The national dance, the cueca, is performed, accompanied by folk music.
· Gatherings: People gather at fondas and ramadas, which are festive spaces for socializing, dancing, and celebrating.
· National pride: The celebration fosters a strong sense of national pride and
provides an opportunity to experience Chilean culture firsthand.
Narendra Damodardas Modi, born 17
September 1950, in Vadnagar, Bombay State (present-day Gujarat), is an Indian
politician who has served as the prime minister of India since 2014.
Modi was the chief minister of
Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is member of parliament (MP) for Varanasi. He is
a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and of the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindutva paramilitary volunteer
organisation. He is the longest-serving prime minister outside the Indian
National Congress.
Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi, born on 16 September 1916, in Madurai, Madras Presidency, British India,
was an Indian Carnatic singer. She was the first musician ever to be
awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour and also the
first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award in 1974. She
was the first Indian to perform at the United Nations General Assembly in
1966.
National Engineers’ Day is an annual observance in India, marked on September 15, marking the birth anniversary of India’s renowned and greatest engineer, Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.
Sir Visvesvaraya was born on September 15, 1861, and is largely regarded as the creator of contemporary Indian engineering methods.
He made groundbreaking contributions to the field of civil engineering, including the design and implementation of significant infrastructure projects, which influenced modern engineering practices and national development in India.
Engineers’
Day honours his genius, contributions, and far-reaching impact in water
resources, infrastructure, and national development.
It holds significant importance as it acknowledges and celebrates the profound contributions of engineers to society and development.
Along with India, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania, these countries commemorate Visvesvaraya’s remarkable works by observing September 15 as Engineer’s Day.
Engineers’
Day serves as a recognition of the critical role that engineering plays in
advancing technology, improving the quality of life, and driving economic
growth. Here’s all you need to know about the day.
Benjamin Peary Pal or B. P. Pal FRS, who passed away on 14 September 1989, in New Delhi, aged 83, was an Indian plant breeder and agronomist who
served as a director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Delhi and
as the first Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research. He worked on wheat genetics and breeding but was also known for his
interest in rose varieties.
On September 13, the United States recognizes Uncle Sam Day to commemorate Sam Wilson, the man behind the iconic image and fascinating nickname for the United States government who was born on September 13, 1766.
The origin of Uncle Sam
· The War of 1812: During the war, Samuel Wilson was a meatpacker in Troy, New York, who provided barrels of beef to U.S. Army soldiers.
· The nickname begins: The barrels were stamped with "U.S." for "United States." Soldiers began joking that the initials stood for "Uncle Sam," the nickname of Samuel Wilson.
· Spreading the story: The nickname caught on and spread among soldiers, eventually becoming a popular personification of the U.S. government.
The modern image
The now-famous visual of Uncle Sam—a stern, white-haired gentleman in a red, white, and blue top hat—was popularized decades later:
Thomas Nast: Cartoonist Thomas Nast helped refine the modern image of Uncle Sam in the 1870s.
James Montgomery Flagg: Artist James Montgomery Flagg's iconic 1917 "I Want You for U.S. Army" recruiting poster cemented the figure in the public imagination. The image is based on a British recruitment poster from World War I featuring Lord Kitchener.
How the day became official
· In 1961, the U.S. Congress formally recognized Samuel Wilson as the inspiration for the national symbol of Uncle Sam.
· A congressional
joint resolution later designated September 13, Samuel Wilson's birthday, as
"Uncle Sam Day".
National Video Games Day is celebrated on September 12th to honour the history, culture, and innovation of video games. While there was a prior observance on July 8th, September
12th is now the recognized date for this holiday. It's a day for gamers to play their favourite titles, connect with others
online, visit arcades, or introduce new people to the world of gaming.
History
· National Video
Games Day began as an informal celebration among gaming enthusiasts.
· Its origins led to
an official observance that has grown in popularity.
· The date was established as September 12th to commemorate the Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game console.
Significance
Innovation: The day highlights the
technological advancements and creative storytelling within the video game
industry.
Culture: It acknowledges the impact and cultural significance of video games in modern society.
Community: National Video Games Day celebrates the connections and communities that video games foster among people of all ages.
How to Celebrate
· Play a favourite
video game.
· Host a
gaming tournament with friends.
· Visit a
local arcade.
· Share your
gaming experiences on social media using #NationalVideoGamesDay.
· Introduce a
new person to the world of video games.
Mahadevi Varma, who passed away on 11 September 1987, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, aged 80, was an Indian Hindi-language poet, essayist and short-story writer. A prominent figure of Hindi literature, Varma is considered one of the four major pillars of the Chhayawadi era in Hindi literature.
Varma published eight collections of poetry between 1930 and 1988, as well as several books containing her essays, speeches, and other prose work. Varma's work depicts her experiences before and after Indian independence, as well as her own work as a social reformer, primarily in the cause of women’s liberation.
She has also been addressed as the modern Meera. Poet Nirālā once called her "Saraswati in the vast temple of Hindi Literature". These works, especially her anthology Deepshikha, greatly influenced both readers and critics.
She developed a soft vocabulary in the Hindi poetry of Khadi Boli, which previously was considered possible only in Braj Bhasha. She was also well-versed in music, and her songs were characterized by a tone that conveyed sharp expressions in a nuanced and euphemistic style.
She started her career as a teacher and went on to become the principal of Prayag Mahila Vidyapeeth. Varma chose to live an ascetic life, despite being married. She was also a painter and translator. She received all the major awards in Hindi literature.
As the most celebrated female writer of the last century, she remains
highly revered. Her birth centenary was celebrated in 2007. Later, Google also
celebrated this day through its Google Doodle.
World Cerebral Palsy Day is an annual event celebrated on October 6th to raise awareness about Cerebral Palsy (CP) and to advocate for the...
