International Day of Happiness 2019: The Ultimate Global Happiness Movement

A day dedicated to happiness by the United Nations to seek the attention of international community to raise awareness that sustainable development will only be achieved if people are happy.

By Gopika Menon

Updated on Mar 21, 2019 | 01:39 AM IST | 3.3M

Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower - John Harrigan. The world has developed drastically in the past decades, but unfortunately we haven’t progressed much on happiness. Every year since 2013, March 20th has been celebrated as the International Day of Happiness all around the globe. The day was found with a motto to inspire and spread the global happiness movement. United Nations celebrates the day to recognise the importance of happiness in the lives of people. Various events celebrating happiness are held across the world on this day. This year, the theme for International Day of Happiness 2019 is ‘Happier Together’. The day will also be promoted around the central theme of 'Share Happiness and be Part of Something Amazing’.

The first high profile meeting on happiness and well-being was hosted on April 2, 2012. The meeting was attended by Heads of State, Senior Delegates and Ministers from over thirty countries and by intergovernmental organisations. The Secretary General proposed to achieve the parity between social, environmental and economic well-being as the three are pillars of sustainable development that seek to end poverty, reduce inequality and protect our planet – three key aspects that lead to well-being and happiness.