Banned Books Week is an annual awareness campaign that celebrates the freedom to read,^[1] draws attention to banned and challenged books,^[2] and highlights persecuted individuals.^[3] The United States campaign "stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them"^[4] and the requirement to keep material publicly available so that people can develop their own conclusions and opinions. The international campaign notes individuals "persecuted because of the writings that they produce, circulate or read."^[3]

The campaign was founded in 1982 by prominent First Amendment and library activist Judith Krug.^[5] It is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), the American Booksellers Association, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE), American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association of American Publishers, National Association of College Stores, and endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Shemini Atzeret (שמיני עצרת – "the Eighth [day] of Assembly"; Ashkenazic pron. shmini-atseres) is a Jewish holiday. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. In the Diaspora, an additional day is celebrated,^[1] the second day being separately referred to as Simchat Torah.^[2] In Israel, as well as in Reform Judaism, the holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are combined into one and the names are used interchangeably.

Shemini Atzeret is often referred to as the eighth day of the Festival of Sukkot, which occupies the seven preceding days (this term is slightly erroneous, however).

Gandhi Jayanti is a National Holiday celebrated in India to mark the occasion of the birthday of Mohandas Gandhi, the "Father of the Nation." He was born on October 2, 1869. Hence Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated every year on 2 October. It is one of the three official declared National Holidays of India and is observed in all Indian states and union territories. The United Nations General Assembly announced on 15 June 2007 that it adopted a resolution which declared that the 2nd of October will be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.^[1]