International days
Friendship Day 2026 मित्रता दिवस
A Day to Celebrate Friends
Sunday, 2 August 2026
Friendship Day, observed in India on the first Sunday of August, is a day to thank and spend time with friends through bands, messages, gifts and outings.
How the date is fixed: First Sunday of August in India; the United Nations International Day of Friendship is 30 July
Why Friendship Day is celebrated
Friendship Day is a day to thank the friends who stand by us. In India it falls on the first Sunday of August and is especially popular with school and college students and young working people. Its message is simple: friendships need time and care, and a small gesture can make them stronger.
History and story of Friendship Day
The idea of a special day for friends took shape in the twentieth century. Greeting card makers in the United States promoted a friendship day in the 1930s, and in 1958 a group in Paraguay proposed 30 July as World Friendship Day. In 2011 the United Nations General Assembly named 30 July the International Day of Friendship, to build friendship between peoples, cultures and countries. India and several other countries kept the first Sunday of August, which is why the two dates differ.
How Friendship Day is celebrated
Friends tie colourful friendship bands on each other's wrists, exchange cards, chocolates and small gifts, and send messages and photos. Many plan a meal, a movie or a short trip together. Schools and colleges hold fun events, and cafes and malls run special offers.
Important days and moments
- Friendship bands and greetings (Sunday, 2 August 2026)
Friends tie bands, exchange cards and gifts, and send messages to friends who live far away. - International Day of Friendship (30 July)
The United Nations day that promotes friendship between people, cultures and countries.
Friendship Day across India
Indian stories have long celebrated friendship. The tale of Krishna and Sudama, in which the king of Dwarka welcomes his poor childhood friend with open arms, is often retold on this day. The day is most visible in cities and college towns, including Dehradun with its many schools and colleges.
Other names and related festivals
- International Friendship Day
- Mitrata Diwas
Frequently asked questions
When is Friendship Day in 2026?
Friendship Day falls on Sunday, 2 August 2026.
Is Friendship Day a bank holiday?
Friendship Day falls on a Sunday in 2026, when banks are closed anyway.
Is Friendship Day a central government holiday?
No. Friendship Day is not on the 2026 list of central government holidays. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, when central government offices are closed anyway.
Is the stock market closed on Friendship Day?
Friendship Day falls on a Sunday, when the markets are closed anyway.
What are the other names of Friendship Day?
Friendship Day is also known as International Friendship Day, Mitrata Diwas.
When is Friendship Day celebrated in India?
India celebrates Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August. In 2026 that is 2 August.
Why are there two Friendship Day dates?
The United Nations marks the International Day of Friendship on 30 July. India and some other countries kept the older custom of the first Sunday of August.
Is Friendship Day a holiday?
No. It is an observance and not a public holiday, though it always falls on a Sunday in India.
Next International days festivals (30 days)
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31 OctSat
Halloween
Upcoming central government holidays
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Holidays and festivals calendar: October and November 2026
Central government holidays for all of India and major festivals. For bank, state government and school holidays, open your state: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.
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Friday, 2 October Gandhi Jayanti Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's freedom struggle and the voice of truth and non-violence. |
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Sunday, 11 October Sharad Navratri Sharad Navratri is the nine night autumn festival of the Goddess Durga, beginning with Ghatasthapana and leading up to Dussehra, with fasting, prayer, garba... |
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Saturday, 17 October Durga Puja Durga Puja celebrates Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura with grand pandals, dhak drums, prayers and feasts, especially in West Bengal and ea... |
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Tuesday, 20 October Dussehra Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, celebrates the victory of good over evil, recalling Lord Rama's defeat of Ravana and Goddess Durga's triumph over Mahishasura. |
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Sunday, 8 November Diwali Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates the victory of light over darkness with Lakshmi Puja, rows of diyas, sweets and family gatherings on the new moon... |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
Sunday, 15 November Chhath Puja Chhath Puja is a four day festival of Bihar and eastern India in which devotees fast and offer arghya to the setting and rising Sun while standing in water. |
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Tuesday, 24 November Guru Nanak Jayanti Guru Nanak Jayanti, or Prakash Purab, celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, with prayers, nagar kirtans, langar and lit up gurdw... |
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Public holiday Major festival Today
- Sat, 17 Oct
Durga Puja - Tue, 20 Oct
Dussehra - Sun, 8 Nov
Diwali - Sun, 15 Nov
Chhath Puja - Tue, 24 Nov
Guru Nanak Jayanti