1st July – National Doctor’s Day 

In India, Doctor’s Day is observed on the 1st of July to mark the importance of doctors in our lives. This day is also meant to commemorate the medical industry and its advancements.

1st July – National Postal Worker Day
National Postal Worker Day is observed every year on 1st July to thank and appreciate all men and women who work consistently and diligently to deliver all our mail and packages.

1st July – Canada Day 
Canada Day is celebrated annually on the 1st of July and it is a statutory holiday. This day marks the anniversary of the formation of the union of the British North American provinces in a federation under the name of Canada. Canada Day also means fireworks and the year’s biggest national party.

1st July – Chartered Accountants Day 
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) was established on 1st July 1949 and so in India is marked as Chartered Accountants Day. It is the second-largest professional accounting and finance body in the world.

1 July – National U.S. Postage Stamp Day
National U.S. Postage Stamp Day is celebrated on 1st July every year to commemorate the existence of Postage Stamps that is used for sending letters and to appreciate the extraordinary works of all the Philatelists.

1st July – National Gingersnap Day
National Gingersnap Day is celebrated on 1st July every year to enjoy this sweet and savoury treat. Do you know Gingersnaps are cookies mainly made from molasses, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and brown sugar? Basically, it is a combination of sweet and spicy. They are healthier alternatives to other cookies as they are lower in calories.

2nd July – World UFO Day
World UFO Day is observed on 2nd July. It was founded by the UFO hunter Haktan Akdogan. The first World UFO Day was celebrated in 2001 and spread awareness among people to gaze at the heavens scanning for unidentified flying objects.

2nd July – National Anisette Day
National Anisette Day is observed on 2nd July every year and is popular in Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France. Let us tell you that Anisette is an anise-flavoured liquor that is made by distilling aniseed and sometimes made by adding sugar.

3rd July – National Fried Clam Day
National Fried Clam Day is celebrated every year on the 3rd of July. Fried clam is the process of deep-frying the clams after being coated in the bread crumbs and stripping them further. This is a traditional way to prepare fried crumbs.

4 July – USA Independence Day
Independence Day USA is celebrated on 4 July. The United States Independence Day is also known as the Fourth of July or the Fourth. This day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776 from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

5 July – List of Historical Events

Someone has rightly said that history is not made in a day! But, one day can bring many changes in history. Various events, birthdays, etc. fall on the 5th of July. 

6 July – World Zoonoses Day
World Zoonoses Day is observed every year on 6 July to emphasise and bring problem awareness amongst people and teach them to take the right action. Do you know the first vaccination against a zoonotic disease was administered by Louis Pasteur on 6 July 1885?

7 July – World Chocolate Day 

The day is observed on July 7 as on this date in 1550, chocolate was first brought to Europe. World Chocolate Day is celebrated in different countries on different days. 

7 July- Global Forgiveness Day 

Global Forgiveness Day on July 7, also known as International Forgiveness Day, is a relatively new observance dedicated to promoting forgiveness and reconciliation on a global scale. The exact origin and history of Global Forgiveness Day are not well-documented, but forgiveness as a concept has deep roots in various cultures and religions.

7 July- Islamic New Year

The Islamic New Year is also known as the  Hijri New Year. The day marks the beginning of the new lunar Hijri year and also the day on which the year count is increased. Most Muslims around the globe mark the first day of the month of Muharram as the start of the Islamic year. This year the first day of the Islamic New Year will be marked on July 7(tentative).

9 July- National Sugar Cookie Day

 It is observed on 9 July to honour the popular and delicious sugar cookie. The day celebrates the delicious little treat of sugar cookie and the big role it plays in our lives.

9 July- Nunavut Day 

Nunavut Day is a celebration of the creation of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. The day honours the rich culture, heritage, and contributions of the Inuit people who call Nunavut home. Nunavut Day also serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to preserve and protect the Inuit way of life and to foster understanding and respect for Indigenous cultures in Canada.

10 July- Global Energy Independence Day

Global Energy Independence Day is observed on July 10 all over the world annually. It serves as a reminder to governments, organizations, and individuals about the importance of reducing reliance on non-renewable resources and transitioning towards cleaner and more resilient energy systems. 

11 July – World Population Day
World Population Day is observed annually on 11 July to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues.

11 July – National 7-Eleven Day
National 7-Eleven Day is observed every year on 11 July. On this day 7-Eleven convenience stores reserve special deals for their customers. Every year it honours its customers in a variety of ways.

12 July – National Simplicity Day
National Simplicity Day is observed annually on 12 July to honour Henry David Thoreau who was an author, philosopher, historian, tax resister, abolitionist, development critic, surveyor, and leading transcendentalist. Basically, he was an advocate for living a life of simplicity.

12 July – Paper Bag Day
Paper Bag Day is observed on 12 July annually to recognise the importance of the invention of the Paper Bag that we mostly take for granted. In 1852, Francis Wolle, a schoolteacher, invented the first machine to mass-produce paper bags. 

12 July- Malala Day

Malala Day is celebrated every year on July 12 to celebrate the birthday of activist Malala Yousafzai. Malala Day was designated by the United Nations to honour the young woman who has been advocating for women’s education for years. 

13 July: National French Fry Day

It is observed on 13 July to recognise a staple food in menus across the country. The day is generated to celebrate the amazing food dish. French fries come in various cuts and styles.

14 July – Bastille Day or French National Day
Bastille Day is celebrated on 14 July every year. This day marks the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 which is a turning point of the French Revolution.

15 July – World Youth Skills Day

World Youth Skills Day is celebrated on 15 July every year to raise awareness about the importance of technical, vocational education & training and the development of other skills relevant to both local and global economies.

15 July – Social Media Giving Day

It is observed on 15 July. The day was inaugurated by Givver.com, a platform dedicated to fundraising through Twitter, in 2013.

17 July – World Day for International Justice
World Day for International Justice is observed annually on 17 July every year. It is also known as the Day of International Criminal Justice or International Justice Day. This day recognises the emerging system of international criminal justice.

17 July – World Emoji Day

World Emoji Day is observed on 17 July every year since 2014. The day is celebrated to represent an idea or an emotion through electronic means. 

18 July – International Nelson Mandela Day
International Nelson Mandela Day is observed on 18 July every year. The day celebrates Mandela’s life and legacy in a sustainable way that will bring about the needful changes.

20 July – International Chess Day

It is observed on 20 July to honour the foundation of the Federation Internationale des Eches (FIDES).

20 July – Moon Day

Moon Day commemorates the day when man first walked on the moon in 1969.

21 July- Guru Purnima 

Guru Purnima is a Hindu religious festival honouring all gurus, both academic and spiritual. Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists all participate in the holiday celebrations in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. 

22 July – Pi Approximation Day
Pi Approximation Day is observed on 22 July every year because of the value of Pi which is 22/7. Whereas Pi Day is celebrated on 14 March which is similar to the approximate value of 3.14 and also coincides with Albert Einstein’s birthday.

22 July- National Flag Day

The Indian National Flag remains a symbol of India’s rich cultural heritage, its hard-fought struggle for freedom, and the aspirations of its people for a united and prosperous nation. National Flag Day is observed on July 22 annually to celebrate the adoption of the tricolour designed by Pingali Vekayya as the flag of India.

22 July – National Mango Day or Mango Day

It is celebrated on 22 July. The day is to know about the history and some lesser-known facts about the juicy and delicious fruit mango

22 July- Sawan

The holy month of Sawan or Shravan begins on 22 July this year. The date for Sawan changes every year. This fifth month of the Hindu lunar calendar typically falls between July and August in the Gregorian calendar. The holy month is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the most revered deities in Hinduism. It is believed that observing prayers, fasting, and other rituals during this month pleases Lord Shiva and in return, he grants devotees his blessings and divine grace.

24 July – National Thermal Engineer Day
National Thermal Engineer Day is observed every year on 24 July to show the importance of advancing the thermal engineering industry and is provide the electronics industry with innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective thermal management and packaging solutions.

25 July – World Embryologist Day

On 25 July 1978, Louise Joy Brown became the first baby to be conceived through IVF or in vitro fertilization and so the date is celebrated as World Embryologists Day every year.

25 July (Fourth Thursday in July) – National Refreshment Day
National Refreshment Day is observed annually on the fourth Thursday in July which falls on 25 July 2024. This day is basically to celebrate fun and refreshment during the hottest time of the year which is in the summer.

26 July – Kargil Vijay Diwas
Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed on 26 July and is named after the success of Operation Vijay. The Kargil war was ended on 26 July which continued approx 60 days. This day is celebrated to honour the Kargil War Heroes.

26 July (Last Friday in July) – System Administrator Appreciation Day
System Administrator Appreciation Day is observed annually on the last Friday of July to recognise the time and effort of the administrators, device doctors, and tech-therapists who sacrifice and work their magic during unsocial hours. This year in 2024 it falls on 26 July.

27 July- APJ Abdul Kalam’s Death Anniversary

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, aka APJ Abdul Kalam, was the 11th President of India. He took his last breath on July 27 2015. This year marks the 7th death of ‘Missile Man’. On this day, we can honour him as one of history’s finest educators who made a significant contribution to the advancement of Indian space and military research.

28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
World Nature Conservation Day is observed on 28 July every year to recognise that a healthy environment is a foundation for a stable and productive society and for future generations. We must protect, conserve and sustainably manage our natural resources.

28 July – World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on 28 July to generate an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis. Also, this day makes people aware of hepatitis disease and its consequences in the life of the people suffering from it.

28 July – National Parent’s Day (Fourth Sunday in July)
National Parents Day is observed on the fourth Sunday in July and in 2024 it falls on 28 July. This day is celebrated to honour all the parents who play a vital role in the lives of children. Their unconditional love and sacrifice for their children can’t be measured.

29 July – International Tiger Day
International Tiger Day is observed every year on 29 July to spread awareness about the need for the conservation of Tigers and promote the protection of the natural habitat of tigers. This day is also known as Global Tiger Day.

30 July – International Friendship Day

International Friendship Day is celebrated on 30 July to mark the importance of friends and friendship in life. The day also advocates the role that friendship plays in promoting peace in several cultures across the world.

 Eid al-Fitr, also known as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” is one of the most significant religious festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide. It marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, during which Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset. Eid al-Fitr holds immense cultural, spiritual, and social significance, bringing communities together in joyous celebration and reflection.

The festivities of Eid al-Fitr commence with the sighting of the new moon, signaling the end of Ramadan. This auspicious occasion is often referred to as “Chand Raat,” meaning “Night of the Moon,” as communities gather to observe the crescent moon, confirming the start of Eid. The following day, Muslims gather in mosques or open spaces for special prayers known as “Salat al-Eid.” These prayers, offered in congregation, express gratitude to Allah for the strength and perseverance shown during Ramadan and invoke blessings for the entire Muslim community.

One of the defining features of Eid al-Fitr is the spirit of charity and generosity that permeates the celebrations. Muslims are encouraged to give “Zakat al-Fitr,” a form of almsgiving, before the Eid prayers. This donation is typically in the form of staple food items and is aimed at ensuring that the less fortunate members of the community can also partake in the joyous festivities of Eid. Additionally, many Muslims choose to extend acts of kindness and charity by distributing gifts, clothing, and food to those in need, embodying the values of compassion and solidarity that lie at the heart of Islam.

Central to the celebration of Eid al-Fitr is the communal feasting and sharing of meals with family, friends, and neighbors. After the Eid prayers, families gather to enjoy elaborate feasts that feature an array of traditional dishes and sweets. From savory delicacies like biryani, kebabs, and samosas to delectable desserts such as baklava, sheer khurma, and maamoul, the Eid table is adorned with a rich tapestry of flavors and aromas that reflect the diverse culinary traditions of the Muslim world. The act of sharing meals and hospitality during Eid fosters a sense of unity, kinship, and camaraderie among individuals from all walks of life.

In addition to the feasting and festivities, Eid al-Fitr is also a time for personal reflection, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Muslims take this opportunity to seek forgiveness from Allah and reconcile with family members, friends, and acquaintances, thereby fostering harmony and goodwill within their communities. The spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation underscores the importance of compassion, empathy, and understanding in building strong and resilient relationships, echoing the teachings of Islam on mercy and forgiveness.

Moreover, Eid al-Fitr serves as a joyous occasion for cultural expression and heritage preservation. Across the globe, Muslims adorn themselves in vibrant attire, with colorful clothing and intricate designs reflecting their cultural backgrounds and traditions. Markets and bazaars come alive with the hustle and bustle of shoppers purchasing new clothes, accessories, and gifts for loved ones. The streets are adorned with festive decorations, and music fills the air as people come together to celebrate their shared identity and faith.

In conclusion, Eid al-Fitr is a cherished and festive occasion that holds deep spiritual, cultural, and social significance for Muslims around the world. It is a time of gratitude, reflection, and renewal, as well as a celebration of unity, compassion, and generosity. As Muslims come together to mark the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid, they reaffirm their bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, spreading joy, peace, and goodwill to all.

 From time to time, people across the world, irrespective of religion, celebrate different festivals or other religious functions/rituals. We all know the different religious festivals, programmes, functions, rituals, etc., but Halloween is not common among people. So, I am presenting my experience. For several years in the gated community where I live, children, irrespective of age and gender, celebrate different festivals and rituals, including Halloween. I, as a senior citizen, enjoy their enthusiasm and joyousness. So, before writing about the Halloween rituals by our campus children, let me highlight a few points about Halloween that have been collected from Britannica (britannica.com/story/why-do-we-celebrate-halloween). “Halloween has been around for more than a thousand years. Originally a religious observance, it became increasingly secular over the centuries until its religious trappings disappeared. Today, Halloween is considered a holiday for dress-up and fun, especially for children.

Halloween’s origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, held on November 1 in contemporary calendars. It was believed that on that day, the souls of the dead returned to their homes, so people dressed in costumes and lit bonfires to ward off spirits. This way, popular Halloween tropes such as witches, ghosts, and goblins became associated with the holiday.
In the 7th century CE, Pope Boniface IV created All Saints Day, originally celebrated on May 13. A century later, Pope Gregory III moved the holiday to November 1, likely as a Christian substitute for the pagan festival of Samhain. The day before, the saintly celebration became known as All Hallows Eve or Halloween. Though the holiday began in Celtic regions of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France, it quickly spread to other parts of the world. The first American colonists in New England were forbidden to celebrate it for religious reasons, though it enjoyed some popularity in the Southern colonies. By the 1800s, fall festivals marking the seasonal harvest incorporated Halloween elements, and Irish immigrants escaping the devastating Potato Famine brought with them many Halloween traditions that remain today.”
In one gated community of Hyderabad known as Libdom Luxury Villas (Raj Reddy Valley), Bandlaguda Jagir, children, irrespective of age, enjoyed Halloween rituals by dressing vis-à-vis wearing masks like ghosts, vampires, witches, animals, and others. For the benefit of readers, I wish to mention that this gated community is spread over around 17 acres of land with indoor and outdoor games, a gym, a park, a swimming pool, a function hall, etc. Altogether, 190 families (a few might be unoccupied) live in this gated community; each has a duplex house and surroundings little land. In the land, all nurture flowers, some vegetables, etc. The most highlighting point is that this gated campus consists of different religions, castes, and languages (people of different States), representing a mini-India in the true sense, and residents celebrate all festivals amicably. Anyway, as a part of Halloween rituals, around 70 children, irrespective of age and gender, participated in the programme. It is noteworthy to mention that kids and teenagers, by forming groups – each group consisting of 7 to 8 children based on their age group and friendship enthusiastically visited almost every villa, and elders of each villa spontaneously provided each child candy, chocolate, and other sweets. I, as a senior citizen, thoroughly enjoyed their enthusiasm, happiness, joy, and cheerfulness. I read in my school days a German proverb that I recollect now, “You can do anything with children if you only play with them.” I firmly believe that the children of our campus are our great resources.
(I express my gratitude to Mrs. Sreelatha, Villa-49, and Mrs Ramya Reddy, Villa-16, for providing me necessary inputs to write the article).
Prof Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad

 Diwali or Deepawali is one of the most important festivals of the Hindus. It generally falls in the month of October. Fifteenth day of the month of Kartik is the day of its celebration. The festival marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of winter.

A few days before the festival, houses are cleaned, white-washed and painted. The Hindus decorate their houses with pictures and images of gods. Fairs are held on this occasion in all towns and villages. People purchase parched rice, sugar toys, earthen cups and other things for the worship or goddess Luxmi.

In the right time goddess Luxmi is worshipped with parched rice, sugar toys and sweets. Then the Hindus illuminate their houses by means of earthen cups and candlestricks. Rows of lighted lamps are seen everywhere.

Some people gamble the whole night, while others recite Ramayana, hold keertans and read religious book. All want the blessing of goddess Luxmi on the night.

 By: Astha Raghav 

Ganesh Chathurthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, or Vinayaka Chaviti is a Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of Lord Ganesh to earth from Kailash Parvat with his mother Goddess Parvati/Gauri. The festival is marked with the installation of Lord Ganesh’s clay murtis privately in homes and publicly by Shri Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularly known as Lokmanya Tilak in Pune in the year 1893 on elaborate pandals (temporary stages). Observations include chanting of Vedic hymns and Hindu texts such as, prayers and vrata (fasting). Offerings and prasāda from the daily prayers, that are distributed from the pandal to the community, include sweets such as modaka as it is believed to be a favourite of Lord Ganesh. The festival ends on the tenth day after start, when the idol is carried in a public procession with music and group chanting, then immersed in a nearby body of water such as a river or sea, called visarjan.. In Mumbai alone, around 150,000 statues are immersed annually. Thereafter the clay idol dissolves and Ganesh is believed to return to Mount Kailash to Parvati and Shiva. The festival celebrates Lord Ganesh as the God of New Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles as well as the god of wisdom and intelligence and is observed throughout India, especially in the states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Goa, West Bengal, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu. Ganesh Chaturthi is also observed in Nepal and by the Hindu diaspora elsewhere such as in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, other parts of the Caribbean, Fiji, Mauritius, South Africa,United States, and Europe. In the Gregorian calendar, Ganesh Chaturthi falls between 22 August and 20 September every year.

At public venues, along with the reading of texts and group feasting, athletic and martial arts competitions are also held.

Indian freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak, championed it as a means to circumvent the colonial British government ban on Hindu gatherings through its anti-public assembly legislation in 1892. It is also known as Ganesh Chaturvedi.

Though not alluding to the classical form of Ganapati, the earliest mention of Ganapati is found in the Rigveda. It appears twice in the Rigveda, once in shloka 2.23.1, as well as in shloka 10.112.9. Both of these shlokas imply a role of Ganapati as “the seer among the seers, abounding beyond measure in food presiding among the elders and being the lord of an invocation”, while the shloka in mandala 10 states that without Ganapati “nothing nearby or afar is performed without thee”, according to Michael. However, it is uncertain that the Vedic term Ganapati which literally means “guardian of the multitudes”, referred specifically to later era Ganesh, nor do the Vedic texts mention Ganesh Chaturthi. appears in post-Vedic texts such as the Grhya Sutras and thereafter ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Vajasaneyi Samhita, the Yajnavalkya Smriti and the Mahabharata mention Ganapati as Ganesvaras and Vinayak. Ganesh appears in the medieval Puranas in the form of “god of success, obstacle remover”. The Skanda Purana, Narada Purana and the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, in particular, profusely praise him. Beyond textual interpretations, archaeological and epigraphical evidence suggest Ganesh had become popular, was revered before the 8th century CE and numerous images of him are traceable to the 7th century or earlier.

Thank You!