Children’s Day 2023: Theme, Celebration, History

Children’s Day 2023 falls on Tuesday, 14th November 2023. The theme of this year’s children’s day is “Children are important.”

Jawaharlal Nehru, born 14 November 1889, was an Indian independence activist and the first Prime Minister of independent India. Also called famously as Pandit Nehru, he was a well-known political figure who played a major role in achieving the independence of the country. Other than this, Pandit Nehru was also very popular among the children who called him Chacha Nehru with affection. It was Nehru’s love for children that led to the celebration of his birth anniversary as Children’s Day in India. In this article, important details related to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Jayanti 2023, the birth anniversary of Pandit Nehru and Children’s Day, has been provided.

Why is Children’s Day celebrated on Jawaharlal Nehru Jayanti?

The birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is celebrated all over the country as Bal Diwas or Children’s Day. Pandit Nehru was very fond and affectionate towards children and in his lifetime he performed several major work for the welfare of children.

He was quite popular among the children of India who fondly called him Chacha Nehru (Uncle Nehru). Pandit Nehru believed that the future of country can only be shaped if the children are nurtured properly with love, care and right to education are available for every children.

This vision of Jawaharlal Nehru led to the establishment of major institutes in India, including All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for medicine, Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) for engineering and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) for management studies.

Pandit Nehru expressed his thoughts and philosophy in the letters that he wrote to his daughter Indira Gandhi in her boarding school, when she was 10-years old. It was the deep love of Chacha Nehru towards the children that every year 14^th November (his birth anniversary) began to be celebrated as Children’s Day all around the country.

The collection of letters written by Pandit Nehru to Indira Gandhi was later published as a book called as Letters from a Father to His Daughter.

History of Children’s Day celebration in India

In India and many other counties, Children’s Day was observed on 20^th November, a date decided by the United Nations General Assembly for celebrating the same.

However, after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, it was decided that his birth anniversary on 14 November will be observed as Children’s Day.

This was done to commemorate the love and affection that Chacha Nehru has for the children of country and the same feeling of love that the children had for their Chacha Nehru.

Check: Other days celebrated in November

Significance of Children’s Day

Jawaharlal Nehru had a very clear vision about the future of the country and declared that it was only possible if every children received good care, food and equal opportunities for education.

To increase people’s awareness about the rights of children to food, education and opportunities for development, Children’s Day is celebrated across the country.

Not just on Children’s Day but it is an important question to ask everyday that whether or not the children, who are the future of the country, are taken care of properly or are their rights are getting neglected by the society.

How is children’s day is celebrated?

Children’s day in India is celebrated with great enthusiasm and children are particularly excited for this day. Schools and other government and non-government organizations celebrate this day by conducting many fun and entertaining activities for children.

About International Men’s day

Events and competitions such as fancy dress competition, debate competition, story writing competition, story telling competition, puzzles, quizzes, treasure hunt and cultural and social programs like singing, dancing, etc are organized and children actively take part in these activities. Toys and candies are also distributed by these organizations on the event of Children’s Day.

Many entertainment programs, specifically for children, can be seen running on television on the occasion of Children’s Day. Apart from schools, parents also celebrate this day with their little ones and offer them with toys, gifts, cards, candies, etc. Going out for picnic or visiting places of children’s interest like museum, fun parks, etc are also some great way of celebrating this day with your children. Entertaining events and activities can also be organized at home and both parents and children can participate in them.