Animal Welfare Board urges people to celebrate Cow Hug Day on February 14

In a controversial appeal, the Animal Welfare Board has urged people to celebrate Cow Hug Day on February 14. Remarkably, February 14 is celebrated across the world as Valentine’s Day where lovers or couples send cards and flowers to each other and spend special time together to honour their love for each other. In the recent years, there has been a trend by Hindu Nationalist organisations to analogously celebrate Hindu festivals supplanting Christian festivals. Whether this appeal by Animal Welfare Board is a manifestation of this new tradition is a question that is best left for readers to discern.

However the appeal did mention that vedic traditions are almost on the verge of extinction due to the progress of western culture over time. It also stated that the dazzle of western civilization has made Indian physical culture and heritage almost forgotten. The appeal elaborates the benefits of hugging cows by saying that it will bring emotional richness and increase individual and collective happiness. Hence all cow lovers are urged to celebrate February 14 as Cow Hug Day keeping in mind the importance of mother cow and make life happy and full of positive energy.

Notably, the appeal has been issued on the direction of Department or Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Whether Cow Hug Day becomes popular as a festival in India after this appeal is something that can be concluded after February 14.