Date

Day

Description

1 May

International Labour Day

Also known as Labour Day or May Day. Celebrated
globally to honour the contributions of workers. In India, it’s referred to
as Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas or Kamgar Din.

1
May

Maharashtra Day

State holiday in Maharashtra to commemorate the formation
of the state on 1 May 1960 from the division of the Bombay State.

1
May

Gujarat Day

State holiday in Gujarat to commemorate the
formation of the state on 1 May 1960 from the division of the Bombay State.

2
May

World Tuna Day

Established by the United Nations to raise awareness about
the importance of tuna fish.

3
May

Press Freedom Day

Observed to evaluate
press freedom around the world and pay tribute to journalists who have lost
their lives in the exercise of their profession.

Theme: “Journalism under Surveillance”

4
May

Coal Miners Day

Honours the coal miners and acknowledges the dangers of
coal mining.

4
May

International Firefighter’s Day

Recognises and honours the sacrifices made by
firefighters to ensure the safety of their communities and environment.

5
May

World Laughter Day

Celebrated on the first Sunday of May to promote world
peace through laughter. Initiated by Dr Madan Kataria, the founder of the
worldwide Laughter Yoga movement.

6
May

International No Diet Day

Celebrates body acceptance and diversity of body
shapes.

7
May

World Athletics Day

Promotes athletics among youth, schools, and institutions
to introduce new talent and encourage sports.

7
May

World Asthma Day

Observed on the first Tuesday of May to raise
awareness and care about asthma globally.

8
May

World Red Cross Day

Commemorates the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, the
founder of the Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

8
May

World Thalassaemia Day

Honours patients suffering from Thalassaemia and
their families, encouraging those who live with the disease.

9
May

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti

Observed to celebrate the birth anniversary of
Rabindranath Tagore, a renowned Indian artist, novelist, poet, and Nobel
Prize laureate.

9
May

Maharana Pratap Jayanti

Celebrates the birth anniversary of Maharana
Pratap, the legendary warrior and ruler of Mewar, Rajasthan.

10
May

World Lupus Day

Raises awareness about the symptoms of Lupus, a chronic
autoimmune disease.

11
May

National Technology Day

Highlights the role of
science and technology in daily life and commemorates the Pokhran nuclear
test held on 11 May 1998.

Theme: “Integrated Approach in S&T for
Sustainable Future”

12
May

International Nurses Day

Celebrates the contribution of nurses to society and marks
the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.

12
May

Mother’s Day

Celebrated on the second Sunday of May to honour
motherhood.

15
May

International Day of Families

Raises awareness about family-related issues and the
social, economic, and demographic processes affecting them.

16
May

National Dengue Day

Raises awareness about dengue fever in India,
observed as per the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare.

16
May

International Day of Light

Commemorates the first successful operation of a laser by
physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman in 1960.

17
May

World Telecommunication Day

Marks the founding of the International
Telecommunication Union and promotes awareness about the importance of
communication and information technology.

17
May

World Hypertension Day

Promotes
awareness about hypertension and encourages preventive measures to control
this health issue.

Theme: “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live
Longer”

17
May

National Endangered Species Day

Celebrated on the third Friday in May to raise
awareness about wildlife conservation and restoration efforts for endangered
species.

18
May

World AIDS Vaccine Day

Recognises the efforts of researchers and health
professionals in developing an effective AIDS vaccine and educates
communities about HIV prevention.

18
May

International Museum Day

Raises awareness about
the role of museums in society, established by the International Council of
Museums (ICOM).

Theme: “The Future of Museums: Recover and
Imagine”

18
May

Armed Forces Day

Celebrated on the third Saturday of May to pay tribute to
men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces.

20
May

International HR Day

Highlights the role of HR professionals and
practices in organisations, established by the European Association for
People Management.

21
May

National Anti-Terrorism Day

Observed to spread awareness about the violence caused by
terrorism and to honour former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated
on this day.

21
May

International Tea Day

Recognises the contributions of the tea industry
and promotes fair trade and investment in tea production.

22
May

International Day for Biological Diversity

Increases awareness and understanding of biodiversity
issues.

23
May

Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima

Celebrates the birth of Gautama Buddha, known as
the ‘Light of Asia’, believed to have been born on the full moon of Vaishakh.

23
May

World Turtle Day

Raises awareness about the protection of turtles and
tortoises and their habitats.

24
May

National Brother’s Day

Celebrates the relationship between brothers and
sisters, observed mainly in the US.

25
May

Africa Day

Commemorates African independence, sovereign rule, and
identity, marking the founding of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May
1963.

27
May

National Memorial Day

Observed on the last Monday of May to honour fallen
American military personnel.

30
May

International Day of Potato

Promotes the sustainable production and consumption of
potatoes, supporting efforts to reduce hunger and poverty.

30
May

Goa Statehood Day

Celebrates Goa’s statehood, which was recognised on
30 May 1987.

30
May

Hindi Journalism Day

Marks the publication of the first Hindi-language
newspaper, Udant Martand, on 30 May 1826.

31
May

Anti-Tobacco Day

Observed globally to
raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco on health.

Theme: Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry
Interference.