Every year, Global Handwashing Day 2021 is celebrated on October 15. The day is observed to create an awareness about the importance of hygiene. The theme for 2021 is "Our Future is at Hand – Let’s Move Forward Together." The day was founded by the Global Handwashing Partnership. It focuses on the importance of hand wash and comes up with "creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times".
The first World Handwashing Day was celebrated in more than 70 nations in 2008. More than 120 million children across the world participated. Since then, people are observing the day to spread awareness about "washing hands, build sinks and tippy taps, and demonstrate the simplicity and value of clean hands."
As per experts, handwashing is a must at the time of making food, after using the restroom, before dining, after blowing your nose or sneezing or coughing. The day was first observed by the Global Handwashing Partnership, an international alliance of institutions that promoted effective handwashing with soap.