Girmit Day is observed in Fiji on May 15 to commemorate the arrival of the first indentured Indian laborers in 1879 and to recognize their contributions to the nation. This public holiday highlights the struggles and resilience of the Girmityas, who were brought to Fiji under the Indian indenture system as a substitute for slave labor. The first ship carrying 463 Girmityas arrived on May 14, 1879, and between 1879 and 1916, nearly 61,000 Indians came to work on sugarcane plantations. Girmit Day serves to celebrate the preservation of Indo-Fijian culture, language, and identity, acknowledging the hardships faced by these laborers and their descendants. In 2023, the Fijian government established Girmit Day as a public holiday, aiming to honor the legacy and contributions of the Indo-Fijian community.