International Mud Day (2009 - ongoing)
Welcome to the International Mud Day information hub: A space to celebrate, connect, and share the joy that comes from playing together in the mud!
This page is dedicated to stories, updates, and highlights from Mud Day celebrations around the world. Here, you can explore how communities in every corner of the globe come together each year to embrace nature, creativity, and equality through the simple, universal language of play.
International Mud Day, founded by Bishnu H. Bhatta and PSD Nepal in 2009, began with a simple idea: In the mud, all children are equal. What started as a small local event in Nepal has now grown into a worldwide movement that brings thousands of children and families together every June 29th.
Through this page, we invite you to rediscover the magic of Mud Day - its history, global impact, and the inspiring stories that remind us how a little mud can build a lot of connection, joy, and kindness.
History & Origins
The idea for International Mud Day began in 2009 at the World Forum for Early Childhood Care and Education in Belfast, Northern Ireland. During the gathering, two members of the Nature Action Collaborative for Children (NACC) - Gillian McAuliffe from Australia and Bishnu H. Bhatta, Director of PSD Nepal - shared stories about how children in their countries experienced playing in nature.
Gillian, from Western Australia, described how children there rarely had the chance to play in mud: The sandy soil of Perth and a cultural hesitation to “get dirty” made it difficult. Bishnu, on the other hand, explained that in Nepal there was plenty of mud, but many children lacked extra clothes or even soap to wash after playing. Their conversation sparked a simple yet powerful idea: What if children everywhere could connect through the joy of mud, regardless of where they lived or what they owned?
When Gillian returned to Bold Park Community School in Perth, she told this story to her students. Shocked that children in Nepal couldn’t play in mud, the Australian children decided to help. They raised $1,000 AUD in just three weeks to buy clothes for children in Nepal so they could join in the fun.
In September 2009, Bishnu organized the very first Mud Day celebration at the Panchkhal Orphanage near Kathmandu. Fifty-eight children, including several with disabilities, spent a joyful day playing football, running, splashing, and laughing in the mud. It was also a day of compassion: The children enjoyed their first meat meal in five months, sharing food, laughter, and new friendships.
Meanwhile, the children at Bold Park celebrated their own Mud Day in Australia on the same day: Mixing soil and water by hand to create their own muddy playgrounds. Though thousands of kilometers apart, both groups shared the same joy and connection to the Earth.
Over time, the friendship between Nepal and Australia deepened. In 2013, families from Bold Park traveled to Nepal to celebrate Mud Day together and support renovations at the orphanage. The bond that began with two educators and a handful of children became a global tradition: Reminding us all that, in the mud, all children are equal.
Today, International Mud Day is celebrated on June 29th across the world, connecting children, families, and communities through the universal joy of muddy play and shared humanity.
Mission & Values
At its heart, International Mud Day is about more than just mud: It’s about connection, equality, and joy. What began as a shared dream between two educators has grown into a worldwide celebration of childhood, nature, and togetherness.
The mission of Mud Day is simple yet powerful:
To bring children of all backgrounds together to play, laugh, and learn, side by side, as equals.
Through the act of playing in mud, children discover that the things that divide us, language, culture, wealth, or ability, disappear when we meet in nature. A handful of mud becomes a symbol of unity, creativity, and kindness.
Our Core Values
--> Equality through Play
In the mud, all children are equal. Whether from a city or a village, with or without disabilities, every child can experience freedom, joy, and belonging.
--> Connection to Nature
Mud Day reminds us that we are part of the Earth, not separate from it. It invites children (and adults) to feel the ground beneath their hands, breathe fresh air, and rediscover the healing power of the natural world.
--> Community and Inclusion
Each Mud Day celebration brings together families, schools, and organizations to share laughter and friendship. It’s a day when communities connect, grow stronger, and remember the importance of compassion.
--> Creativity and Joy
From muddy sculptures to games and songs, Mud Day celebrates imagination in its purest form: Spontaneous, messy, and full of wonder.
--> Hope for a Better World
By encouraging children to care for each other and the environment, International Mud Day plants the seeds of empathy, sustainability, and peace.
Annual Highlights
Every year on June 29th, thousands of children, families, and educators around the world celebrate International Mud Day: Each in their own way, yet all sharing the same spirit of joy, equality, and connection to nature.
This section gathers memories, reflections, and stories from Mud Day celebrations across the years. From small community gatherings in Nepal to large-scale events in schools and parks across continents, each celebration adds a new chapter to the story of Mud Day.
Mud Day 2025
On June 29, 2025, the fields of Panchkhal, Kavre District came alive with laughter, community, and creativity as Partnership for Sustainable Development (PSD-Nepal) hosted the 17th International Mud Day celebration.
Each year, PSD-Nepal brings together children, educators, and international friends to celebrate the power of nature-based play. This year’s theme “Embracing Nature, Culture & Childhood” reflected a deep connection between Nepal’s cultural traditions, its land, and the universal joy of getting muddy.
Supported by our long-time partners at Bold Park Community School in Perth, Australia, more than 85 children from Kathmandu and Panchkhal joined in a day filled with play, laughter, and learning.
Nature as Playground, Teacher, and Healer
The muddy rice fields became a joyful classroom where children rediscovered their bond with nature. Through mud football, frog races, sculpting, and relay games, barriers of background and ability dissolved, replaced by teamwork, confidence, and shared joy.
Cultural Connection: Mud Day Meets Asar Pandhra
The event coincided with Asar 15, Nepal’s traditional rice-planting festival, celebrated with Dahi Chiura (yogurt and beaten rice). This fusion of global celebration and local heritage brought deeper meaning, honoring the earth while nurturing community ties.
Moments of Joy and Learning
Beyond the fun, Mud Day 2025 encouraged creativity, inclusion, and well-being. It offered sensory play for children with special needs, leadership opportunities for youth, and a bridge between rural and urban communities.
Every child left with a certificate, a gift, and a smile: A reminder that in the mud, everyone is equal.
With Gratitude
Thanks to the generous support of Bold Park Community School, PSD-Nepal provided nutritious meals, educational materials, therapy supplies, and sports equipment to local children — continuing a friendship that has grown across continents since 2009.
Mud Day 2024
On June 29, 2024, the fields of Panchkhal Valley were alive with music, colorful marigold garlands, and muddy footprints as PSD-Nepal hosted the 16th International Mud Day. This edition emphasized cultural celebration and creativity, integrating the traditional rice-planting festival, Asar Pandhra, into the Mud Day experience.
Children from orphanages and local schools explored mud art and storytelling, shaping mud sculptures inspired by local myths and nature. Mud football, relay races, and tug-of-war encouraged healthy competition while building cooperation and confidence. Special stations provided sensory and inclusive play opportunities for children with disabilities.
After a day of play, everyone shared traditional Dahi Chiura, connecting the global Mud Day celebration with local heritage. Awards like “Best Mud Artist” and “Team Spirit Champion” recognized creativity, courage, and collaboration.
Mud Day 2024 was a celebration of identity and togetherness, showing that even as we embrace our traditions, the universal language of play can unite children from diverse backgrounds in laughter and discovery.
Mud Day 2023
On June 29, 2023, the Panchkhal Social Welfare Orphanage in Kavre District transformed into a lively arena of muddy adventures. Children from local orphanages and nearby villages joined volunteers and staff for a day filled with laughter, movement, and creative play.
This year, the focus was on exploration and teamwork. Children engaged in mud obstacle courses, mud volleyball, and cooperative games like building small mud forts together. Sensory play stations allowed younger children and those with special needs to experience the textures, smells, and coolness of the earth in playful, safe ways.
Following the muddy fun, everyone celebrated Nepalese culture with Dahi Chiura, marking the beginning of the rice planting season, and shared a hearty lunch. The day concluded with a recognition ceremony where children received small gifts, books, and sports equipment.
Mud Day 2023 highlighted how play can bridge social divides, fostering trust, confidence, and community. Through the simple act of connecting with the earth, and each other, children discovered that joy and friendship thrive when differences are left at the door.
