August is the eighth month in the Julian calendar, named after the first Rome emperor Augustus Caesar (3 BC-AD 14). Various national and international festivals are recognised and celebrated this month. All the days have their significance.
According to the Hindu calendar, the auspicious Shravana month (July 25 − August 22) is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The deity's devotees celebrate this month with full enthusiasm and devotion. Various festivals like Janmashtami, Teej, Assumption of Virgin Mary, Onam, Raksha Bandhan are observed in the Shravana month. Here are some days of national and international importance.
The UN General Assembly designated in 2011 the International Day of Friendship Day on July 30 to the honour of friends. It is celebrated in some countries on the first of August to thank people for the relationships worldwide, promoting and encouraging peace, happiness, and unity. Every year National Mountain Climbing Day is observed on August 1, in honour of Bobby Mathews and his friend Josh Madigan, for successfully scaling the 46 High Peaks of New York State's Adirondack Mountains. To encourage nursing mothers to breastfeed their infants to provide health, nutritional and emotional benefits to both, the World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually during August 1-7.
Gloomy days mark the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, respectively. This is the first use of nuclear weapons. Beer is the world's oldest (dates back to 1800 BC) and most favourite beverage for the ordinary working man/woman. For those looking for fun on weekends, the International Beer Day on August 7 is an occasion to celebrate mankind's common thirst. It is the day to remember those responsible for brewing and serving beer.
To generate awareness about the contribution of the handloom and handicrafts sector to the socio-economic development and make commendable efforts to preserve the indigenous crafts of India, the National Handloom Day is celebrated on August 7 annually. The day also commemorates the Swadeshi Movement that was launched on August 7, 1905, in the Calcutta Town hall to protest against the partition of Bengal by the British Government. On the historical front, the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee led by Mahatma Gandhi passed a resolution of the Quit India Movement on August 8, 1942, for starting a non-violent struggle on the widest possible scale for India's independence. Historically, the rights of indigenous peoples have continually been violated, and they are among those groups of people who are most disadvantaged/vulnerable in the world. The International Day of the World's Indigenous People is observed on August 9 annually to create awareness about protecting their rights and maintaining their distinct cultures.
Youths are pillars and the future of the country. International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12, to recognise the efforts of the youth towards society, engage youngsters in making positive contributions to their communities, and focus on the difficulties that some young people are experiencing the world over.
On August 12, World Elephant Day is observed to make people understand the need to preserve and protect the elephant from extinction. To spread awareness about the importance of organ donation and motivate people to donate organs after death to save the lives of people dying from organ failure, World Organ Donation Day is celebrated on August 13. Indians celebrate Independence Day to commemorate the raising of the Indian flag at the Red Fort by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, on August 15, 1947, marking the end of a 190-year long British rule in India. On this day, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Photography retains memories of events. World Photography Day is celebrated on August 19 to recall the art, craft, science, and history of photography. To honour the humanitarian aid and health workers who have committed, despite the odds, to provide life-saving support and protection to the needy people worldwide, World Humanitarian Day is commemorated on August 19. It was on August 20 that a British doctor, Sir Ronald Ross discovered in 1897 that Malaria is transmitted by female mosquitoes larvae (Anopheles); World Mosquito Day is observed annually to raise awareness about life-threatening diseases like Dengue, Encephalitis, Zika, Chikungunya, etc. The Malayali community celebrates ThiruOnam on August 21. The famous Hindu ritual Raksha Bandhan that strengthens the eternal bond between brother and sister is celebrated on August 22. Women's Equality Day is celebrated on August 26 to mark women's advancements toward equality with men. Following the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, American women got the constitutional right to vote.
We know that dogs put their lives on the line every day. To pay tribute to these incredible animals who work selflessly to keep us safe and save lives, International Dog Day is celebrated on August 26. The Rashtriya Khel Divas is celebrated on August 29, to commemorate the birthday of Indian hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand- the captain of the Gold medal-winning Indian hockey team at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Do you remember Dahi Handi? It is the Janmashtami/Gokulashtami festival that marks the birth of Lord Krishna, which is celebrated on August 30 this year. This article has enumerated a few, but there are many other local festivals celebrated worldwide.
