United Nations: Marking World Hindi Day on Saturday, the United Nations said the language connects communities and brings people together across borders.
“Saturday is World Hindi Day!” the UN said in a post on X with a greeting in Hindi.
“Today and every day, we celebrate Hindi as a language that connects communities and brings people together across borders,” the world body said on Hindi Diwas.
Spoken by millions worldwide, Hindi is more than a means of communication. It carries shared histories, emotions and traditions, making it one of the most influential languages globally.
Over the years, World Hindi Day has emerged as a platform to promote the use of Hindi in international forums, education, literature, diplomacy and digital communication. It also acknowledges the contribution of writers, poets, scholars and cultural ambassadors who have helped strengthen the language across generations and borders.
Hindi is among the most spoken languages in the world, often ranked after Mandarin Chinese and English, with over 600 million speakers globally. Its reach extends far beyond India, with strong Hindi-speaking communities in several countries.
World Hindi Day, also known as Vishwa Hindi Diwas, focuses on promoting Hindi at the global level. It is different from National Hindi Day, which is celebrated in India on September 14.
The official theme for World Hindi Day 2026 has not been announced yet. Each year, the theme reflects Hindi’s role in contemporary society and global communication.
For reference, the 2025 theme focused on Hindi as a global voice of unity and cultural pride.
World Hindi Day was officially observed for the first time on January 10, 2006, during the tenure of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The date commemorates January 10, 1949, when Hindi was used for the first time at the United Nations General Assembly.
Efforts to promote Hindi internationally began much earlier. Since 1975, the Ministry of External Affairs has organised World Hindi Conferences in countries including the UK, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States and Fiji—regions with strong Hindi-speaking communities.
World Hindi Day celebrates the growing global presence of Hindi and encourages its use across education, technology, creative industries and online platforms. The day highlights how Hindi continues to evolve while staying rooted in tradition.
By promoting Hindi internationally, the occasion supports cultural exchange, linguistic diversity and the preservation of heritage for future generations.
World Hindi Day is marked through poetry readings, storytelling sessions, literary discussions and cultural performances across countries.
In India, schools, colleges and government offices organise debates, seminars, quizzes and workshops. Writing and speaking competitions help encourage interest and confidence in the language among students.
Many organisations also honour writers, poets and cultural contributors for their work in promoting Hindi. Social media campaigns using hashtags like #WorldHindiDay play a key role in spreading awareness among younger audiences.
