AGARTALA, April 30 (TIWN): Tripura is all set to observe May Day on May 1 this year with rallies, public meetings and others to be staged on Friday to mark the day which is also termed as ‘Labour Day’.

International Labour Day (also known as May Day or International Workers' Day) celebrates the various labour and left-wing movements across the world. It is mostly observed by holding street marches and demonstrations by working class people and their labour unions.

 May 1 is a national holiday in many countries including India and its states.

May Day is a nationwide bank and public holiday in India. The history of May/Labour Day goes back to 1886 in Chicago, USA, when a gathering of people during a general strike for the eight-hour workday became violent.

A bomb was thrown into the crowd, police began to shoot and dozens of people were killed or injured.

In India, the first Labour Day, or May Day, was celebrated in 1923 in Chennai. Today around India, organisations and trade unions arrange pageants, children enter contests so they can understand the importance of fairness for workers, and political leaders make speeches.

However, in recent years, the celebration of this day has taken a new turn, where the workers and trade unions demand to safeguard their interests and give the economic reforms a humane face.