World Laughter Day Date in the current year: May 5, 2024

In 1998, Dr. Madan Katira organized the first celebration of Laughter Day in Mumbai. Thousands of members from local and international laughter clubs joined the celebration in a mega laughter session. The idea of this holiday rose from Laughter Yoga movement, a special practice helping to raise the concentration of hormones of happiness in blood, feel unconditional love, happiness, forgiveness, generosity and compassion. Dr. Madan Katira decided to promote peace in all world by practicing Laughter Yoga.

The first World Laughter Day was celebrated outside India in 2000 in Copenhagen, Denmark. More than 10,000 people gathered at Town Hall Square to laugh. This event was recorded by the Guinness World Records.

The usual format of World Laughter Day is the congregation of the members of laughter clubs at the important landmarks. The members of the clubs pray for peace and do some Laughter Yoga exercises. In India the members of laughter clubs organize a procession, chanting “Ho-ho, ha-ha-ha”, dancing and clapping while they march. Then they stop to do a few laughter exercises and move on.