Special Dates In January

January as we know is the first month of the year. All of us start the year with new aspirations, and goals. The new year resolutions, how can we forget them, a resolution we make every year only to break them on the third day of the month. January is indeed a special month in which most of us break our new year resolutions. Well, that was on a lighter note, January is a special month and consists of several special days. So let us learn about all the important days in January?

We are full of celebrations and take immense joy in celebrating culture and festivals. As a result, there are several important days from January to December. Today let us take a look at all important days in January and what their exact significance is!

January All Important Days And Their Significance

January is the month of hope, energy, and zeal. It marks new beginnings as we let go of the hurtful memories from the previous year and start the new year with fresh enthusiasm and determination. Let us take a look at the important days in January

New Year's Day, One Of The Most Important Days Of January

1st January: 1st January is the first month of every year. It is the day that we decide to welcome the new year with joy. This day is celebrated worldwide and not only in India. January 1st is celebrated in a grand style in different countries. New year's day fireworks are a treat to watch in several capital cities around the world. Another custom observed in India is the custom of waking up early in the morning to view the first sunrise of the year. There are several new year customs observed around the world, we shall take a deeper look at them soon! 

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12 January: national youth day is observed every year on the 12th of January. This day signifies the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The central government declared 12th January as national youth day and since 1985, it has been commemorated every day. Swami Vivekananda was a revolutionary ideologist who believed in supporting youth and believed that inculcating values and skills in the youth generation will guarantee a promising future for the country.

13 January: 13 January is celebrated as Lohri in the northern part of India every day. Especially in the states of Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh Lohri is celebrated with grandeur. According to the native belief, the Lohri festival embarks on the passing away of the winter solstice. The festival is mainly an agricultural festival as after the Lohri day, the new agricultural season starts. The men and women surround a bonfire for a feast and dance around it, celebrating the season’s first harvest.

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14 January/15 January: This day signifies a wide number of festivals celebrated all over the country. Although the root of the festival is the same, the festivities differ in several aspects. This is one of the most important days of January.

Pongal: Tamil Nadu

The state of Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal every year on the 14th of January. The day marks the beginning of the Tamil new year. Pongal is one of the most important and grand festivals of Tamil Nadu. The festival is celebrated by traditional customs and festivities along with the trademark dish "Pongal", a sweet preparation made with rice. 

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Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra: Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is the most common name of this festival and has been celebrated for years now. The festival embarks the beginning of the new solar cycle. According to the Hindu calendar, the day is the first day and is celebrated along with festivities and sweets!

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Gujarat: Uttarayan

The festival of uttarayan is celebrated grandly in Gujarat and is one of the major festivals of Gujarat. Uttarayan can be broken into two words, namely, Uttar and Ayan Uttar means north in Sanskrit, and ayan means come. Uttarayan marks the arrival of the first ray of sunshine of the year and hence it's termed as uttarayan. Kite flying is one of the most famous customs practiced on the day of the uttarayan. The sky on this day is filled with colorful kites which signify that the world is a sky of possibilities and in this world of possibilities we should keep our kites flying high and filled with aspirations.

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Bihu: Assam

Bihu is probably the most well-known and prominent festival in Assam. The Bihu day signifies the first harvest of the season, that is, the farmers harvest their crop for the very first time in the season on this day. The festivities of Bihu include the practice of the very popular folk dance from the state which is also termed as Bihu. The Bihu dance is performed in the evening along with delicious food and a bonfire!

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Indian republic day: One of the Special Dates in January Month

26 January: Every year, the 26th of January is celebrated as the republic day of the democratic republic of India. The day is one of the three national festivals, the other two being independence day (15th August) and Gandhi Jayanti (2nd October). The importance of 26 January is grand for all of the countries. Hence, the day is celebrated in the joy of democracy and freedom. The day commemorates the anniversary of the day on which India adopted the national constitution for the first time back in the year 1950. Since then 26 January is celebrated by every citizen of India as one of the most important days in the month of January. Parades are held in several cities to honor the day.

The main parade is held in Delhi in presence of the Indian President, prime minister, and a special chief guest who is a political leader of another country. The republic day is a day to celebrate the power and show the world what the Indian defense has in its ammunition. The parade is held from the RajGhat to India gate where each regiment and segment of the Indian army is given to showcase their best marchers.  Soldiers from each regiment March across the length of the Raj path in a very synchronized fashion with complete coordination.

Furthermore, the event also includes the showcasing of several army tanks, advanced weapons, missiles, and other strong ammunition. An airshow is also held in which the different airplanes of the Indian force fly in a specific pattern and glorify the beauty of the sky. The parade also brings in an element of culture as every state is allowed to present its tableau on republic day. The tableau houses colorful depictions of the state and its culture. All the tableaus are truly a pleasure to watch and inculcate a sense of patriotism among every Indian's mind. The importance of 26 January is such that the parade is indeed held in a very grand manner and all the major political figures from the country attend the event.

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30th January: Martyrs Day

30th January commemorates Martyr's day every year and is one of the January important dates. This day is meant to remember the Father of our nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. 30th January signifies the day when Gandhi Ji was unfortunately assassinated by Nathuram Godse during a public speech. Gandhiji took his last breath on the 30th January 1948, a year after the end of the Indian freedom struggle. After his assassination, Gandhi Ji was buried in Raj Ghat which today is well known as Gandhi Smarak. Every year on 30th January, we observe 5 minutes of silence to mourn the death of Gandhiji and remember his glorious life.

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