October 16 is Armenian Press Day.
The day was established by an Armenian Government decree in 2004 and came to replace the Day of the Press Worker.
The day marks the establishment of Azdarar – the first Armenian language newspaper.
It was established on October 16, 1794 in the city of Madras (now Chennai) in India by Rev. Harutyun Shmavonyan.
Azdarar existed for a year and a half until March 1796. During that period, Father Shmavonian published 18 issues, 965 pages in total.
