In a new initiative, the Animal Welfare Board of India encourages individuals to observe ‘Cow Hug Day’ on February 14, Valentine’s Day.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has released a notice inviting people to commemorate “Cow Hug Day” on February 14.
According to the AWBI, doing so will increase “emotional depth” and “individual and community happiness.”
In its public request, the advisory group referred to Valentine’s Day as the “dazzle of Western civilisation,” and said that “Vedic traditions are almost on the verge of extinction due to the progress of Western culture over time.”
The report quoted the body as saying in its appeal:
“In view of the immense benefit of the cow, hugging with cow will bring emotional richness and hence will increase our individual & collective happiness (sic). Therefore, all 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.”
The welfare board named the cow the “backbone of Indian culture and rural economy”, adding that the animal represents “cattle wealth and biodiversity.”
AWBI reportedly said:
“It is known as ‘Kamdhenu’ and ‘Gaumata’ because of its nourishing nature like mother, the giver of all providing riches to humanity.”
Cows are adored in Hinduism and are usually compared to mothers.
Murdering someone for consuming beef or smuggling cows is a capital offence in India, and Hindu zealots have already murdered Muslims.
Despite the fact that Valentine’s Day is widely celebrated in India, fundamentalist and orthodox Hindu organisations usually condemn the celebration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi enforced a blanket ban on the transportation, sale, and slaughter of cows during his tenure as Gujarat’s chief minister from 2001 to 2014.
The Animal Welfare Board of India believes that instead of only being a day for romantic gestures, February 14 would become a day dedicated to honouring the cow.
The board believes that by commemorating Cow Hug Day, the importance of cows in Indian culture and the rural economy would be highlighted.
