While we all love to celebrate Valentine’s Day with our near and dear ones, the Animal Welfare Board of India has made an appeal to add a new twist to our celebrations.
The Board has issued a notice appealing to people to celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug Day’ to spread positive energy and encourage collective happiness.
“In view of the immense benefit of the cow, hugging with cow will bring emotional richness and hence will increase our individual and collective happiness,” the Board stated.
“All the cow lovers may also celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug Day’, keeping in mind the importance of Mother Cow and making life happy and full of positive energy,” it stated.
Expressing concerns over vedic traditions amid the “dazzle of western civilization”, the Board said, “Vedic traditions are almost on the verge of extinction due to the progress of western culture over time.”
“The dazzle of western civilization has made our physical culture and heritage almost forgotten,” it added.
In its advisory, the Board called the cow the “backbone of Indian culture and rural economy”, saying, “We all know that the cow is the backbone of Indian culture and rural economy, sustains our lives, and represents cattle wealth and biodiversity. It is known as ‘Kamdhenu’ and ‘Gaumata’ because of its nourishing nature like mother, the giver of all riches to humanity.”
The Board said that the advisory was issued on the direction of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.