Maha district schools to celebrate Valentine's Day as Mother's Day

Satara, Feb 13: In a bizarre move, the Satara district education officials have directed all schools and colleges to celebrate Valentines Day on Saturday as Mothers Day and sing poems dedicated to mothers, an official said here on Friday.

Although there are no reports that the BJP-led

government has passed any such orders but several right wing organisations across the country have tightened their belts to stop Valentines Day celebrations.

A similar order has been passed by Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh, another BJP ruled state, to the government schools in the state observe Matru-Pitru Diwas (parents' day) on Feb 14 every year.

Chhattisgarh's Directorate of Public Instruction has released a notice asking every government school to celebrate parents day every year and no separate orders will be issued every year in this regard.

The schools will invite parents to participate in aarti and offer sweets. Children will also garland their parents on this day.

To deter youth from practising the "western tradition", the right wing organisation, Hindu Mahasabha, has chalked out a nation-wide strategy as part of which couples displaying affection in public could be married off.

"We have prepared teams of youths who will be paying visits to malls, parks, historical monuments and other places frequented by young couples on Valentine's Day in major towns and cities in the country," President of Hindu Mahasabha Chandra Prakash Kaushik told PTI.

The young couples celebrating the western culture by carrying roses and greeting cards will be explained that the tradition they are so ardently following is flawed, he said.

Stressing that love is not something that needs to be celebrated on one particular day, he said, "In our country, all the 365 days in the year are meant for love, but it should not be displayed on the streets and in parks."

"By demonstrating affection at public places, they are degrading their love and taking forward the western traditions which do not suit our culture and tradition," he insisted.

Each year on February 14, many people exchange cards, candy, gifts and flowers with their 'valentine' on the special day of romance called Valentine's Day.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)