May 2027 starts on a Saturday. Its main days are Labour Day with Maharashtra and Gujarat Day (1 May), Akshaya Tritiya and Mother’s Day (9 May), International Nurses Day (12 May), Buddha Purnima (20 May) and World No Tobacco Day (31 May). Eid al-Adha is expected around 17 May. Last checked October 2026.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Month | May 2027 (31 days; starts on a Saturday, ends on a Monday) |
| Akshaya Tritiya 2027 | Sunday, 9 May (per Drik Panchang) |
| Buddha Purnima 2027 | Thursday, 20 May |
| Eid al-Adha | Expected around 17 May; confirmed after moon sighting |
| Variable-date days | Mother’s Day (second Sunday, 9 May), World Asthma Day (first Tuesday, 4 May) |
Important days in May 2027: full table
| Date | Day | Type | What it is about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 1 May 2027 | International Labour Day (May Day) | International | Celebrates workers and their rights |
| Sat, 1 May 2027 | Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day | National | Both states were formed on 1 May 1960 |
| Sun, 2 May 2027 | World Laughter Day | International | Observed on the first Sunday of May |
| Mon, 3 May 2027 | World Press Freedom Day | International | UNESCO day on freedom of the press |
| Tue, 4 May 2027 | World Asthma Day | International | Observed on the first Tuesday of May |
| Wed, 5 May 2027 | World Hand Hygiene Day | International | WHO day on clean hands and infection control |
| Fri, 7 May 2027 | Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti (Gregorian date) | National | Tagore was born on 7 May 1861; West Bengal usually marks it by the Bengali calendar around 8 or 9 May |
| Sat, 8 May 2027 | World Red Cross Day | International | Birth anniversary of Henry Dunant (born 1828) |
| Sat, 8 May 2027 | World Thalassaemia Day | International | Awareness about the blood disorder |
| Sat, 8 May 2027 | World Migratory Bird Day | International | Observed on the second Saturday of May |
| Sun, 9 May 2027 | Mother’s Day | International | Observed on the second Sunday of May |
| Sun, 9 May 2027 | Akshaya Tritiya | Festival | Auspicious day for new beginnings; 9 May 2027 per Drik Panchang |
| Tue, 11 May 2027 | National Technology Day | National | Marks the Pokhran nuclear tests of May 1998 |
| Wed, 12 May 2027 | International Nurses Day | International | Birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale (born 1820) |
| Sat, 15 May 2027 | International Day of Families | International | UN day on the importance of families |
| Sun, 16 May 2027 | Sikkim Statehood Day | National | Sikkim became India’s 22nd state on 16 May 1975 |
| Mon, 17 May 2027 | World Hypertension Day | International | Awareness about high blood pressure |
| Mon, 17 May 2027 | World Telecommunication and Information Society Day | International | ITU day on communication technology |
| Mon, 17 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha / Bakrid (expected) | Festival | Likely 17 May, possibly a day later; depends on moon sighting |
| Tue, 18 May 2027 | International Museum Day | International | ICOM day celebrating museums |
| Thu, 20 May 2027 | Buddha Purnima | Festival | Birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha; 20 May 2027 per Drik Panchang and Calendarific |
| Thu, 20 May 2027 | World Bee Day | International | UN day on the role of bees |
| Fri, 21 May 2027 | National Anti-Terrorism Day | National | Marks Rajiv Gandhi’s death anniversary (1991) |
| Fri, 21 May 2027 | International Tea Day | International | UN day on the tea industry and workers |
| Sat, 22 May 2027 | International Day for Biological Diversity | International | UN day on biodiversity |
| Thu, 27 May 2027 | Jawaharlal Nehru death anniversary | National | Remembers India’s first Prime Minister, who died in 1964 |
| Fri, 28 May 2027 | Menstrual Hygiene Day | International | Awareness about menstrual health |
| Fri, 28 May 2027 | Veer Savarkar Jayanti | National | Birth anniversary of V.D. Savarkar (born 1883) |
| Sat, 29 May 2027 | Mount Everest Day | International | Marks the first ascent on 29 May 1953 |
| Sun, 30 May 2027 | Goa Statehood Day | National | Goa became a full state on 30 May 1987 |
| Sun, 30 May 2027 | Hindi Journalism Day | National | Marks the first Hindi newspaper, Udant Martand, in 1826 |
| Mon, 31 May 2027 | World No Tobacco Day | International | WHO day against tobacco use |
Notes on key days
Labour Day, Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day (1 May)
International Labour Day honours workers. In India the date is also the formation day of Maharashtra and Gujarat, both created in 1960 when the old Bombay State was split.
Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti (7 May)
Tagore was born on 7 May 1861 and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. In West Bengal the birthday, Pochishe Boishakh, follows the Bengali calendar and usually falls around 8 or 9 May. We have not seen the official 2027 date, so confirm locally.
Akshaya Tritiya and Mother’s Day (9 May)
Drik Panchang puts Akshaya Tritiya on 9 May 2027, a day many families see as auspicious for buying gold or starting something new. Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May, which is the same date this year.
International Nurses Day (12 May)
It is observed on the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, born on 12 May 1820, and it recognises the work of nurses in healthcare.
Buddha Purnima (20 May)
The festival marks the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death, and falls on the full moon of Vaisakha. Both Drik Panchang and Calendarific list 20 May 2027 (Calendarific calls it a provisional forecast).
Eid al-Adha (around 17 May)
Bakrid depends on the Zil Hijja moon. Calendarific lists 17 May 2027 as provisional. In India it can be a day later than in the Gulf, so wait for the announcement.
World No Tobacco Day (31 May)
WHO started it in 1987 to warn people about tobacco-related disease and death. It is observed every year with an awareness theme.
Common confusions
| Pair | Difference |
|---|---|
| Labour Day vs Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day | All three fall on 1 May. The first is international, the other two are state formation days. |
| Buddha Purnima vs Akshaya Tritiya | Akshaya Tritiya is 9 May and Buddha Purnima is 20 May. They are separate festivals. |
| International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May) vs World Environment Day (5 Jun) | The first focuses on biodiversity, the second on the wider environment. |
| Hindi Journalism Day vs World Press Freedom Day | Hindi Journalism Day (30 May) is Indian and about the first Hindi newspaper. Press Freedom Day (3 May) is a global UNESCO day. |
Akshaya Tritiya, Buddha Purnima and Eid al-Adha depend on lunar calendars, so confirm them with a panchang or your local moon committee. A few dates (like Tagore Jayanti in West Bengal) also follow regional calendars.
May brings workers, mothers, nurses and the Buddha together on one calendar. Use this list for revision and planning, and always check lunar dates before booking anything.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is Buddha Purnima in 2027?
Drik Panchang lists Buddha Purnima on Thursday, 20 May 2027. Calendarific also gives 20 May but calls it provisional.
When is Mother’s Day 2027 in India?
Mother’s Day is on the second Sunday of May, which is 9 May 2027.
When is Akshaya Tritiya 2027?
Drik Panchang gives Sunday, 9 May 2027.
Which day is International Nurses Day?
It is on 12 May every year, the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.
When is Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) in 2027?
It is expected around 17 May 2027, possibly a day later in India, depending on the moon sighting.
