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World Laughter Day was created in 1998
Dr. Madan Kataria is credited to introduce World Laughter Day in 1998. He is the founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement. The idea of initiating Laughter Day stemmed from his desire to promote world peace through laughter. Though, many people had apprehensions about this movement but Dr. Madan Kataria was pretty much sure of his objective of building up a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter. It is now a worldwide movement and its popularity has grown exponentially since its inception. There are more than 6000 Laughter Clubs in approximately 65 countries.
Mumbai, India was the first place to organize World Laughter Day in 1998. Outside India, Copenhagen in Denmark conducted first “Happy-Demic” or laughter day in the year 2000. The meet was attended by more than 10,000 people. It was a unique event which also went into the Guinness Book of World records.
World Laughter Day is not just a fanciful concept. It has got actual science working behind it. Laughter helps our body to release certain ‘Feel Good’ hormones into the bloodstream related to feelings of happiness, warmth, unconditional love, bonding, tolerance, forgiveness, generosity, and compassion. Dr. Madan Kataria proved that by practicing Laughter Yoga in groups, the effect of “feel good” hormones increases manifold. It is a powerful emotional state of joy which further increases by interacting with new people and laughing alongside them. This is more like a ‘chain reaction’. A happy person can cheer up his entire surroundings and the people in it.
Dr. Madan Kataria said, “When you laugh, you change and when you change the whole world changes around you”. Laughter can be the harbinger of world peace. It has the power to unite humanity. Laughter is the universal language through which we can all connect to each other. World Laughter Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May every year. This year, the occasion was observed on 2nd of May. On this day, people in many countries take out a procession or a peace march and gather in public places. Various entertainment programs are also held on World Laughter Day.
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