International Day of Friendship 2025: Friendship is one of the most valuable bonds we share as human beings. These bonds are not based on age, nationality and background. While love is often celebrated on Valentine’s Day and familial ties are honoured through festivals and traditions, there’s one special day that is dedicated completely to the friends who stand by us through it all. That is why the International Day of Friendship is observed every year on 30th July. It is a global occasion that serves as a reminder of how friendships can foster peace, build bridges, and bring about meaningful social change.
The significance of this event has increased over the years. In a world that is constantly grappling with division, conflict, and isolation, celebrating friendships isn’t just about exchanging messages or gifts. It’s about recognising the power of empathy, solidarity, and human connection in shaping a more understanding and inclusive world.
In 2025, schools, communities, and organisations around the world are expected to mark the occasion with events, campaigns, and conversations that highlight the value of friendship—not just on a personal level, but as a force for global unity. Whether you’re planning to send a heartfelt note to a friend, participate in a community gathering, or reflect on the friendships that have shaped you, International Day of Friendship offers the perfect moment to pause and celebrate those bonds that truly make life meaningful.
International Day of Friendship: History
In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed International Friendship Day with an aim to forge a strong bond of friendship of people of various countries irrespective of race, colour, gender, religion, etc.
The International Friendship Day is an initiative of the proposal made by UNESCO. It defines the Culture of Peace as a group of values, attitudes, and behaviours that reject violence and make efforts to prevent conflicts by finding their root causes to solve several problems. The United Nations General Assembly adopted it in 1997.
UN mentions: "The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. The resolution places emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity."
According to the Bible, friendship is a bond of human faith, trust, and companionship. Even the importance of friendship is mentioned in the famous Hindu epic 'Mahabharata'. Lord Krishna showed several roles of friendship whether of romance, brotherhood, protection, teasing, etc.
International Friendship Day 2025: Importance of friends in Life
- To have friends is equally important to have a family. That is why it is said that "Friends are the family we choose ourselves".
- No doubt good friends or real friends provide us emotional support, help us, guide us, and support us whenever we need it.
- Friend remains with us in hardships or difficult times and makes us feel special.
- During childhood days, friendship helps us to understand and develop the habit of caring and sharing.
- It is also said that friends are important for proper growth and development. Children learn and play together with friends.
During our teenage, we go through several changes like physical, emotional, and mental. Sometimes we aren't able to share our problems with parents but we share them with our friends. Isn’t it! To have a true friend, who listens to you and provides support, guidance at this age is a real gift.
It is not only in teenage or childhood age to have friends are important. Even friends are equally important in old age. In the concept of the nuclear family sometimes couples may feel lonely so if they have friends around them life remains joyful and interesting.
Therefore, we can say that true friends make life amazing and full of joy. In India, Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August and this year it falls on 1 August. Friends exchange gifts, cards, chocolates, flowers, tie friendship bands to each other, etc. on this special day.
“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." - Walter Winchell
Happy Friendship Day!
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