Animal Welfare Board Of India: Celebrate February 14 as Cow Hug Day, urges Animal Welfare Board of India | India News

NEW DELHI: At the behest of the government, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory advisory body on animal welfare laws, has appealed to the cow lovers in the country to celebrate February 14, marked as Valentine’s Day, as “Cow Hug Day” — noting that the vedic traditions are almost on the verge of extinction due to progress of western culture over time.
“In view of the immense benefit of the cow, hugging a cow will bring emotional richness, hence will increase our individual & collective happiness. Therefore, all the cow lovers may also celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug day’ keeping in mind the importance of mother cows and making life happy and full of positive energy,” said the board in its general appeal, issued on Monday.

The appeal, signed by AWBI secretary S K Dutta, said it was issued with the approval of competent authority and “on the direction of the department of animal husbandry and dairying, ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying”.
The board, established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, provides grants to animal welfare organisations and advises the central government on such issues. Such an appeal has, however, been issued by it for the first time.
Confirming this to TOI, Prachi Jain, assistant secretary, AWBI, said it’s just an appeal to the cow lovers. “We have not planned any special event around it on the occasion due to paucity of time this year. But the board may plan some events around it from next year.”
The board said, “We all know that the cow is the backbone of Indian culture and rural economy, sustains our life, represents cattle wealth and biodiversity. It is known as ‘Kamdhenu‘ and ‘Gaumata‘ because of its nourishing nature like mother, the giver of riches to humanity.
“Vedic traditions are almost on the verge of extinction due to the progress of ‘western’ culture over time. The dazzle of western civilisation has made our physical culture and heritage almost forgotten,” the board statement added.