Hindi Diwas 2023: How it is different from World Hindi Day

Hindi Diwas, celebrated on September 14th every year, holds significant importance in India's cultural calendar. It serves as a reminder of the rich heritage and linguistic diversity that the country possesses. While it often gets confused with World Hindi Day, these two occasions have distinct purposes and histories.

2 things you need to know

• Hindi Diwas promotes Hindi language and cultural heritage annually.
• World Hindi Day encourages the global use of the Hindi language.

Celebrating Hindi's Essence

Hindi Diwas primarily focuses on promoting and preserving the Hindi language, which was designated as India's national language on September 14, 1949. On Hindi Diwas, educational institutions across India encourage students to participate in literary and cultural activities in Hindi. These activities include poetry competitions, essay-writing contests, and letter-writing competitions. The day also provides an opportunity to honour the significant contributions of Hindi writers and poets to the world of literature.

(World Hindi Day is celebrated on January 10th annually | Image: Shutterstock)

World Hindi Day: A Global Celebration

In contrast, World Hindi Day, celebrated on January 10th annually, has a global perspective. It commemorates the inaugural World Hindi Conference held on January 10, 1975. This global observance aims to promote the use of the Hindi language worldwide and celebrate its cultural richness. The decision to establish World Hindi Day was made during a follow-up committee meeting for the World Hindi Conference on June 8th, 2005, and the first celebration took place on January 10, 2006.

Clarifying the Differences

It's important to differentiate between Hindi Diwas and National Hindi Diwas, which marks the adoption of Hindi as one of India's official languages by the Constituent Assembly. As of 2021, Hindi is the third most spoken language globally, with approximately 600 million speakers.

Overall, Hindi Diwas and World Hindi Day may share a common language, but their objectives and histories are distinct. Hindi Diwas serves as a celebration of India's national language and its cultural significance, while World Hindi Day spreads the reach and influence of Hindi on a global scale. Both occasions are vital in ensuring that Hindi continues to thrive and inspire people worldwide.