International Mind-Body Wellness
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Ancient Mind-Body Connections. In ancient India and China, practices like yoga and Qigong developed, reflecting an early understanding of the mind-body connection
History
BCEAncient Mind-Body Connections. In ancient India and China, practices like yoga and Qigong developed, reflecting an early understanding of the mind-body connection
How It's Celebrated
International Mind-Body Wellness is observed by recognizing the importance of the day, learning about its background and significance, and sharing awareness with others through conversation and social media. Many people take time to reflect on the meaning of the observance and participate in relevant activities or community events.
Other Years
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The Bengali New Year celebration is known as “Poila Baisakh” which translates to the first month of the Bengali calendar. It is the first day of the Bengali New Year and usually falls in mid-April. It is a holiday filled with rejuvenation, rebirth and joy, much like new year’s celebrations in most countries around the world. In 2027, Bengali New Year falls on Wednesday 14 April. The holiday will be on Friday 14 April in 2028. The holiday is warmly celebrated throughout Bangladesh. Parades and loud festivals are held, many of which are similar to seasonal and agricultural festivals held during ancient times. Local agricultural products and crafts are sold at the more than 200 fairs held throughout Bangladesh on New Year’s Day. The traditional Charak Mela includes outstanding spiritual acrobatics as well. On the day before, businessmen close their account of books and start new on Bengali New Year’s Day. It is believed that this renews and strengthens their business relationships with customers. Cleaning is also an important tradition on this holiday. People bathe in the morning and don clothing made of the finest linen. Afterward, they visit friends and family, and gather to watch the parades or participate in the festivals. Many people exchange sweets while younger people touch the feet of elders in order to seek blessings for the upcoming year. There is a custom to wear gem studded rings on this day in order to please the stars and planets as well. Handmade gifts and greeting cards are exchanged which are normally based on a local theme. On the last day of the year, Bengali’s purchase copies of the Panjika, the Bengali almanac, a guide to festivals, favourable days throughout the next year.
Buddha Purnima
The Buddha Purnima, also referred to as Boishakhi Purnima, is the largest religious festival in Bangladesh held by the Buddhist community. It is celebrated annually on the full moon day that lies in the first month of the Bangla Calendar. In 2027, Buddha Purnima falls on Thursday 20 May. The holiday will be on Tuesday 2 May in 2028. Boishakh, which occurs in May according to the Gregorian calibration, marks the occurrence of three important events of the Blessed One’s life, including birth, his enlightenment, and his death. During this full moon day, Buddhists all around the country commemorate it in several ways. Some of the most common activities include: In addition to the public events, many Buddhists spend the day with their family, relatives, and friends to exchange greetings and solidarity. In the morning hours, devotees often travel to the temple, where they offer puja, candles, incense, flowers, and spend time worshipping the Buddha. On this day, many Buddhists also provide charity to others in the community. They spend time helping the elderly and sick people in the country by paying for their medical needs and even distribute clothes and fruit to those who are disadvantaged.
Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is a four-day-long festival celebrated in the Mithila region of Nepal as well as in parts of India. The festival is dated based on the local calendar, but it typically falls sometime in October or November on the Gregorian Calendar. In 2026, Chhath Puja falls on Sunday 15 November. The holiday will be on Thursday 4 November in 2027. Chhath Puja is a festival held for the worship of the sun, which is praised and thanked for “sustaining all life on earth.” The sun is also worshiped as the “giver of energy and life force” to all nature. Hindus in Nepal and elsewhere also view the sun as a source of healing, prosperity, and general well being. Thus, Chhath Puja involves rites to honour the sun in the hopes of him granting a long and healthy life to oneself and one’s loved ones. There are many rituals that take place during the four days of Chhath Puja, including holy baths, fasting, long periods of standing while worshiping the sun, and making offerings to the sun at sunrise and sunset.
Ching Ming Festival
Ching Ming Festival is one of China’s largest events based off of the lunar calendar. Ching Ming officially starts 104 days after the winter solstice. The festival usually begins on April 4th or 5th, but activities may start as early as 10 days prior. In English, Ching Ming is often referred to as Tomb Sweeping Day or Pure Brightness because of the holiday’s events. The primary role of the Ching Ming Festival is to pay respect to ancestors. While many Chinese holidays are oriented around ancestor worship, Ching Ming is the largest. Filial piety is a central aspect of traditional Chinese culture, so it should come as no surprise that this is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the Middle Kingdom. Nearly every ethnic group in China celebrates Ching Ming in one way or another. Ching Ming is also a celebration of spring because of the incoming planting season in most of China. According to Chinese stories and folklore, the Ching Ming Festival got its start sometime between 700 and 500 BCE. Legend states that a man named Jie Zitui, a loyal servant of a Chinese lord, helped his lord survive through exile. In order to prevent his lord from starving to death, Jie cut meat from his own leg and fed it to his lord. Surviving this ordeal, the lord returned to power 19 years later. By this time, the lord had forgotten about Jie’s service. Sometime later, the lord remembered Jie and felt regretful about forgetting. The lord intended to reward Jie, but by the time he found him, Jie had passed away. To honor the life and death of Jie, the lord established Ching Ming as a holiday to commemorate the dead. During the Ching Ming Festival, there are various customs and traditions that people take part in. One of the most enjoyed festival activities is kite flying. During the day, people fly kites of various colors to celebrate spring. People also celebrate the holiday with kites in the evening, but small lanterns are attached. When hundreds of kites are in the air, the Chinese sky looks like it is filled with many stars. The kites are symbolic of good fortune, but according to legend, they are also said to be able to cure and prevent diseases. In accordance with the Ching Ming Festival’s tradition of ancestor worship, an activity known as tomb sweeping is an important part of the festival day or the 10 days leading up to it. The purpose of this activity is to clean and beautify the graves or urns of ancestors. Weeds will removed from grave plots and fresh dirt will be brought to the surface. In many cases, people will also offer their ancestors their favorite food and wine as tribute. Incense and flowers may also be brought as a show of respect. There are many varieties of flowers that can be used during this holiday, but peach blossom and chrysanthemum flowers are among the most popular. In cities, the process of honoring the dead is not as elaborate due to the practice of cremation in place of traditional burials. In all cases, good prayers are said for ancestors and deceased relatives. After paying respects to ancestors, many Chinese take part in a spring outing, or taqing (踏青), to enjoy the warm weather and company of friends. The first spring outing occurred during the Tang Dynasty and it has become a time of celebration ever since. In order to get exercise and experience nature, many Chinese people will go on a trip to a city center or natural area. Popular activities include seeing gardens, walking through parks with family members, hiking through natural areas, and participating in sports. The spring outing is meant to promote happiness and good health habits after commemorating ancestors. As with most great festivals, Ching Ming offers a wide selection of special cuisine to celebrate happiness. One of the favorite dishes of Ching Ming is sazi (撒子). Sazi is fried wheat or rice flour that has been bound with eggs, onion, sesame, or other ingredients. The exact recipe for sazi depends on region and the chef. This is a salty or savory food that is enjoyed throughout China. Snails that have been seasoned with onion and salt are also a favorite dish during the Ching Ming Festival. To specifically celebrate the spring outing and warm months, Chinese people also enjoy qingtuan (青团), or green dumplings. These dumplings resemble green apples and are made of rice powder, green vegetable juice, and sweetened bean paste. Qingtuan have a sweet taste and are green. Some Chinese chefs also create their own unique variations of this dish.