Main content
The first World Laughter Day
Dr Madan Kataria is the founder of World Laughter Day. The first one took place in Mumbai, India, on 11 January 1998.
On the 11 January 1998 in Mumbai, India, the first World Laughter Day took place.
It was the idea of Dr Madan Kataria, a medical doctor who wanted to test the theory that laughter is the best medicine.
He tells Gill Kearsley how this unusual event started.
(Photo: World Laughter Day in Mumbai in 2016. Credit: Arijit Sen/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Last on
Fri 12 Jan 202403:50GMT
BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa
Broadcasts
- Thu 11 Jan 202408:50GMTBBC World Service
- Thu 11 Jan 202412:50GMTBBC World Service
- Thu 11 Jan 202418:50GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Thu 11 Jan 202423:50GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Fri 12 Jan 202403:50GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa
Featured in...
![]()
Health and wellbeing—Witness History
From fitness to friendship - ideas that changed the way we treat our bodies and minds
![]()
Indian history—Witness History
Listen to and download our programmes
Podcast
![]()
Witness History
The story of our times, told by the people who were there
