Children's Day

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Lesson Transcript

Culture Class: Holidays in India Lesson 23 - Children's Day

Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in India Series at HindiPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Hindi holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 23, Children's Day. In Hindi, it’s called Baal Divas.

The birthday of the first Indian prime minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, is celebrated as Children’s Day in India, and is observed every year on November 14.

Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question-

When is Children's Day celebrated throughout the world?

If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening.

In India, Children’s Day is celebrated on the birthday of the first Prime Minister, Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru. Pandit Ji was extremely fond of children, or in Hindi bacce. Children would affectionately call him 'Chacha Nehru', meaning Uncle Nehru. As the first Prime Minister, he put much emphasis on the importance of children's well-being and education, and thus, Children’s Day is considered an apt way in which to remember him.

On this day, special entertainment programs for kids are organized in schools throughout the nation, including competitions, musical performances, plays, feasts, and more. Whatever the event may be, emphasis is laid on celebrating the joys of childhood. In India today many children lack access to basic resources, such as education, security or even shelter, an issue which is brought to light each year on Children’s Day.

Different institutions celebrate Children’s Day in different ways. Schools organize educational plays, with children dressing up as Pandit Nehru, wearing his trademark white hat. Special film festivals, or Film Utsav, book fairs, or Kitab Mela, art festivals, or Kala Utsav and museum tours are organized for children, where parents can also join in on the festivities.

At the national level, the Prime Minister, the President of the Congress Party, and other dignitaries lay floral wreaths at Pandit Nehru’s memorial and say a few words in his memory each year on this day.

Now it's time to answer our quiz question-

When is Children's Day celebrated throughout the world?

In 1954, the United Nations resolved to mark a day in the year to focus on the needs of children, choosing November 20 as World Children’s Day.