International Day Of Peace
Students of School of Art, Nantong University and several citizens from Yihe Community light up candles to pray for peace on the International Day of Peace on in Nantong, Jiangsu Province of China, Sept. 21, 2015. Getty Images/ VCG

The world celebrates International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, a day when everyone comes together to observe a period of non-violence and ceasefire.

The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001. Since then various organizations, dedicated to maintaining peace across the world, have celebrated the occasion by engaging in a number of activities. Here are a few ideas to celebrate world peace this year, as suggested by the UN:

Global Feast for Peace: People from within a neighborhood or adjacent localities can gather at a pre-decided venue to enjoy a feast and exchange interfaith or intercultural dialogue.

Roots and Shoots: Initiated by Dame Jane Morris Goodall, a U.N. Messenger of Peace, "Roots and Shoots" is a youth service program for young people, and whose aim is to foster respect and compassion for all living things. Every year members of the organization honor the International Day of Peace by teaching everyone about living in harmony with nature and each other.

Be the Peace: One can participate in synchronized meditation online from Sept. 19 – 21 by signing up for “Be the Peace.”

Compassion Games International: An organization that works to unite sports lovers all over the world on the day and helps them find fun and creative ways to invest in compassionate action.

Global Mala (Yoga) Project: Aims to bring global yoga community together through collective practices that are based on based upon the sacred cycle of 108.

International Day of Peace is also an ideal time to learn about the importance of peace from some of the great thinkers of our time. Here are a few inspirational quotes to celebrate the occasion from Brainy Quote.

1) "I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word." — Martin Luther King

2) "I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness; I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too. I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more." — Anne Frank

3) "If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships - the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace." — Franklin D. Roosevelt

4) "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." — John F. Kennedy

5) "Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man." — Benjamin Franklin

6) "Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people." — Jawaharlal Nehru

7) "I'm just hoping that people understand that Islam is peace and not violence." — Muhammad Ali