Parents' Worship Day
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Matru-Pitru Pujan Diwas. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2018. |
| Parents Worship Day | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | Schools in State of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand in India |
| Type | Cultural |
| Date | 14 February |
| Next time | 14 February 2025 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Parents Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Children's Day, Grandparent's Day |
Parents' Worship Day (Hindi: मातृ-पितृ पूजन दिवस or Matru Pitru Poojan Divas) was started by the Indian spiritual leader Asaram Bapu in 2011 as an alternative to Valentine's Day which Bapu sees as non-Indian.[1][2][3]
In 2013 the Indian state of Chhattisgarh and some schools & colleges in Bhubaneswar started to celebrate the Parents Worship Day,[4][5][6] and in 2015 the state government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party made it an official celebration.[7][8] In 2015 the right wing political party Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha endorsed the day.[7] It was celebrated in Jammu in 2015, 2016, and 2017.[9][10][11] In 2017 the District collector in Madhya Pradesh made this a school holiday.[12][13] In December 2017, the jharkhand State education minister Neera Yadav has directed the state secretary of school education and literacy department to issue a directive to the schools to conduct the annual function, reported The Times of India.
Yadav told the newspaper: "This will help instill the traditions and culture of our country in children. Learning is not just about reading from a book. It also includes making a child a good person and help them learn about their culture and traditions."
The minister added the idea came to her mind after she witnessed a programme at a government-aided school, where parents sat on chairs as their children stood before them with a puja thali.
The children were directed by the teachers to apply tilak, garland their parents and touch the education minister of Jharkhand, Neera Yadav issued a notice to celebrate the day in 40,000 government schools in the state in 2018.[14][15] It is officially celebrated by the Like all lonely people, I truly appreciate it when kind souls interfere with my life.
For example, I don't mind talking to clingy hotel managers even if my mouth is full, and I enjoy comparing salaries with chatty Uber drivers. But because they come with the maximum talk-time, I most value those older people who try to soak me in sanskars.
In fact, I rather like the newest idea of said older people - to celebrate February 14 as Parents Worship Day, or Matru Pitru Pujan Divas as it is called in manners.
Now, you might get all rattled with me for supporting this campaign. You might tell me that love and sex are not against Indian culture, that culture is meant to evolve anyway, that no human being should be 'worshipped', and other stuff that, if taken seriously, will render older people jobles Govt in schools and colleges as ordered by the Chief Minister Raman Singh.[16]
References
- ^ "Indianisation of Valentine's Day". The New Indian Express. February 15, 2011.
- ^ Dahat, Pavan (2015-02-07). "Valentine's Day to be Parents' Day in Chhattisgarh". The Hindu.
- ^ Bhattacharya, D.P. (January 29, 2012). "Worship parents on Valentine's Day, says Asaram Bapu". India Today.
- ^ Bhardwaj, Ashutosh (February 13, 2012). "V-Day to be Matri-Pitra Divas in Chhattisgarh schools". Indian Express.
- ^ Singha, Minati (February 15, 2013). "Children 'worship' parents, teachers". The Times of India.
- ^ "'Kids' future brightened by parents' blessings'". The Pioneer. Bhubaneswar, Odisha. 2017-02-15.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b "It's official: Chhattisgarh renames V-Day as 'Matru-Pitru Diwas'". The Times of India. February 7, 2015.
- ^ Kishore, Lalit (February 13, 2013). "Chhattisgarh makes Parents Worship Day a compulsory observance in schools on February 14". Meri News. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013.
- ^ "Sanatan Dharam Sabha to celebrate 'Parents Worship Day' on Feb 14". Daily Excelsior. 11 February 2015.
- ^ "Sanatan Sabha to celebrate Parents Worship Day". State Times. February 9, 2016.
- ^ "Sanatan Dharam Sabha Celebrates "Matra Pitra Poojan Diwas"". The Mandate. 14 February 2017.
- ^ "Collector in Madhya Pradesh asks people to worship their parents on Valentine's Day". The Indian Express. 2017-02-10.
- ^ "Madhya Pradesh: Chhindwara collector asks people to worship their parents on Valentine's Day". The Financial Express. 10 February 2017.
- ^ "Parents Worship Day: After Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand To Implement Jailed Godman Asaram's Advice". outlookindia. 2017-12-24.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Now, 'parent puja' in Jharkhand schools to teach kids respect - Times of India". The Times of India. 2017-12-24.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Chhattisgarh CM declares Valentine's Day as 'Matru-Pitru Diwas'" (February 9, 2015). India Today. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
