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Witness History: The first World Laughter Day

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The first World Laughter Day

11/01/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The first World Laughter Day

The first World Laughter Day took place in Mumbai, India in January 1998

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)

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