Chhattisgarh Education Dept orders celebration of `Parents` Day`

Raipur: The BJP government in Chhattisgarh has issued directions to the district collectors that February 14, popularly celebrated as Valentine`s Day, be celebrated in the state as Parents Day. Chief Minister Raman Singh has also made an appeal to the people, especially the student community, to participate in the celebration of `Matru-Pitru Pujan Diwas`. The Chief Minister had earlier taken the decision to celebrate February 14 as Parents Day at schools and colleges on the suggestion of religious leader Asaram Bapu. Official sources said a circular issued by the Education Department to collectors and other officers instructs that programmes should be arranged to mark the day at the local educational institutes. Sources also said that NGO Yog-Vedant Seva Samiti has even come up with `a ceremony` to mark the Parents Day, which involves the parents and the child offering each other `tilak` and flowers, and the parents giving the child blessings. The ceremony also requires that the child performs `arati` of the parents. PTI