List of important days and dates in January

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January is the first month of the year. With it, comes hope and a new start to the year. It is a promise that the worst is over and people can begin their life afresh.


January was named after the Roman god Janus. He was the god of all beginnings. This month provides the ability to see all things past and future. Here are all of the important days and dates in January 2022. These days are of both national and international importance.


Global Family Day- 1st January


People all over the world celebrate this day as a day of peace and sharing. Its aim is to unite and spread a message of peace. They consider and promote the idea that Earth is one Global Family so as to make the world a better place to live for everyone.


World Braille Day- 4th Jan


People observe this day on January 4 to honor the birth of Braille’s inventor, Louis Braille.


World Day of War Orphans- 6th January


Every year, on the 6th of January, people celebrate World Day of War Orphans to create awareness about the plight of the war orphans. On this day, they also address the traumatic conditions these orphans face.


African National Congress Foundation Day- 8th Jan


John Langalibalele Dube in Bloemfontein founded South African Native National Congress (SANNC). This happened on the 8th of January. Behind this, the primary motive was to give voting rights to black and mixed-race Africans. It also aimed to unite the African people and spearhead the struggle for fundamental political, social, and economic change.


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


People observe this day every year 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 date in 1915.


Death anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri- 11th Jan


Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of Independent India. He popularised the slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’. He actively participated in India’s freedom struggle. Due to cardiac arrest, he died on this date in 1966.


National Youth Day- 12th January


People celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda also called Swami Vivekananda Jayanti on this date. He was born on 12 January 1863. The government had decided to observe it as National Youth Day.
It was because the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth. He had given a speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago and glorified India’s name.


Indian Army Day-15th January
Every year, people observe this day as Indian Army Day. The reason is, on this day in 1949 field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. He took over from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief.


Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti- 23rd Jan


Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was born on this date in 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. He was one of the most prominent Indian freedom fighters.
People knew his army as Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauj. He also led an Indian national force from abroad against the Western powers during World War II.


National Girl Child Day- 24th January


On 24 January every year, the people of India celebrate National Girl Child Day. They do it to highlight the inequalities faced by a majority of the girls in India. They also focus on the importance of education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care and safety of girl children, etc.


National Voters Day and National Tourism Day- 25th January


Every year, on this day, people celebrate National Voter’s Day or Rashtriya Matdata Diwas. They do it to encourage young voters to take part in the political process. In 2011, for the first time, this day was celebrated to mark Election Commission’s Foundation Day.
People of India also celebrate this day as National Tourism Day. Indians do it to raise awareness and educate people about the importance of tourism. They also teach others the role tourism plays in the Indian economy.


Republic Day and International Customs Day- 26th January


On 26 November 1949, the Indian Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution the supreme law of the land. They also replaced the Government of India Act 1935. It came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system.
This day marks the largest parade that took place at Rajpath, Delhi every year. Therefore, we can say that this day is nationally celebrated only in India.
On this particular date, there is also an international celebration. It is International Customs Day. The Custom Organisation celebrates it to recognize the role of custom officials and agencies in maintaining border security. It also focuses on the working conditions and challenges that customs officers face in their jobs.


Birth Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai- 28th January


This famous personality was born on 28 January 1865 in Punjab. He was a prominent nationalist leader who played an important role in India’s struggle for freedom. This person also earned the title of ‘Punjab Kesari’ or ‘the Lion of the Punjab’.
He initiated the foundation of the Punjab National Bank. He died on 17 November 1928, due to serious injuries. The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Hisar, Haryana is named after Lala Lajpat Rai.


Martyrs Day (Shaheed Diwas) and World Leprosy Eradication Day- 30th January


People of India celebrate Martyr’s Day or Shaheed Diwas every year in memory of Mahatma Gandhi and the sacrifice of three revolutionaries of India.
As, of 30 January 1948, the ‘Father of Nation’ was assassinated. And on 23rd March 3 heroes namely Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar of the nation were hanged to death by the British.
Internationally, people observe World Leprosy Day on the last Sunday of January. They do it to focus on the target of zero cases of leprosy-related disabilities in children. This is because they know that disabilities do not occur overnight. However, they happen after a prolonged period of undiagnosed disease.

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