(With inputs from PTI)

Uttar Pradesh minister of animal husbandry and dairying, Dharampal Singh on Thursday said orders have been issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India to celebrate February 14 as ‘Gau Mata Samman Divas’ (Cow Hug Day) instead of Valentine’s Day.

“An order has been issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India to celebrate Gau Mata Samman Divas instead of Valentine’s Day on February 14, 2023 because cows are culturally and economically important for us,” the minister told reporters here.

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The Animal Welfare Board of India had on 6 February 2023 said in a notification, “all the cow lovers may also celebrate the February 14 as Cow Hug day keeping in mind the importance of mother cow and make life happy and full of positive energy.”

(Credit: Cow Hug Day/ Wikimedia commons)

“Vedic traditions are almost on the verge of extinction due to the progress of west culture over time. The dazzle of western civilization has made our physical culture and heritage almost forgotten,” it added.

The Board also stated that the notification was made “with the approval of competent authority and on the direction of “Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.”

Cows are economically important because zero budget farming is based on cow dung and urine, Dharampal Singh said.

The minister said no cattle rearers should leave the cows after milking because apart from cow’s milk, both cow dung and urine are important for the farmers.

He said cow urine destroys germs of fields and cow dung promotes organic and natural farming and is environment-friendly.