Mulund school to celebrate V-Day as ‘Matru-Pitru Din’
Posted on: February 18, 2009
By Alpita Masurkar
Posted On Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 02:12:57 AM
Students of Laxmibai English Medium school will wash their parents’
feet and perform aarti, then seek their blessings in their own unique
version of Valentine’s Day
By Alpita Masurkar
Posted On Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 02:12:57 AM
Students rehearse for the Valentine’s Day celebrations on Friday
This will probably be one of the few Valentine’s Day celebrations that
neither the Shiv Sena, Sri Ram Sene or any right wing political party
will oppose.
The Laxmibai English Medium school in Mulund has decided to celebrate
the day as ‘Matru-Pitru Din’ – parents’ day. Parents have hailed this
concept.
“Youngsters usually think of celebrating Valentine’s day with their
friends. It feels nice when you become the Valentine of your children.
We are really pleased with the idea,” said Ashwini Dadpe, mother of
Rutuja, a class VIII student of the school.
Dinesh Faria, father of Niti who studies in class II said, “Instead of
banning the day because of the way it is perceived now, the school has
shown the right way to celebrate it and we are very happy.”
In the celebrations that will start at 8.30 am, the students will wash
their parents’ feet with water and perform their ‘aarti.’ The parents
will then bless their children.
“Earlier, this is how children would seek the blessings of their
parents. As times have changed, the practices too have changed. Today,
the tradition of seeking the blessings of your parents by bowing
before them is fast disappearing. We feel that conducting a ‘puja’
this way will revive that concept among our children and strengthen
their bond with their parents,” said Prasad Kulkarni, the president of
the school.
The students too are enthusiastic about the idea. Says Rutuja,
“Whenever there are such days, we tend to celebrate them with our
friends.But when the announcement regarding this day was made,
everyone in my class really felt pleased. Instead of just trying to
ban Valentine’s Day, the school decided to celebrate it in the right
way.”
Gaurav Borse, a student of class VIII said, “We usually celebrate
Valentine’s Day with gifts of soft toys, roses etc for friends. I have
never sought my parents’ blessings this way, so I am very happy I got
the chance to do so.”
India Positive 
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