February 14th Is Not Valentines’ Day – Check Out!

Even the kid studying in school can tell that 14February is Valentines’ Day, but in recent years, it has been realized that western culture is taking complete control over Indian youth, distracting them from Sanatana Dharma. So, Parents' Worship Day, which is also known as Matru Pitru Poojan Diwas, was started by the Indian spiritual leader Sant Asaram Bapu in 2007 as an alternative to Valentine's Day, which doesn’t belong to Indian culture.

The day was first celebrated on 14 Feb 2007 at Sant Shri Asharamji Gurukul, Ahmedabad and the festival draws its inspiration from the puja of Shiva and Parvati performed by Ganesha. Chhattisgarh has been celebrating Matru-Pitru Pujan Diwas since 2012, on the advice of Asaram and it is also celebrated officially in schools and colleges of Chhattisgarh as ordered by the Chief Minister Raman Singh.

To make Indian youth understand the glory of Sanatan culture, and to have moral values and respect their parents, Asaram Bapu initiated Matru-Pitru Pujan Diwas. On this day, children from all religions worship their parents and seek their blessings by offering them tilak and garland. This helps to cement the bond between family members and injects good values like respect, obedience, and humility in children.

In several states like Maharashtra, Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Valentine's Day has been officially renamed as Matru-Pitru Pujan Diwas. Parents are invited to schools and children worship them by performing aarti and offering sweets. Muslim students express their love for parents by celebrating the day as 'Abba Ammi Ibadat Diwas'. The youth loved the idea of Asaram Bapu and appreciating him for taking the initiative.