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The Animal
Welfare Board of India announced that from 2023 onwards, February 14 will be celebrated as "Cow Hug Day"saying that "All cow lovers may celebrate February 14 as Cow Hug Day keeping in mind the importance of mother cow and make life happy and full of positive energy," read the notice issued
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protested on the Mandir Marg, New Delhi, near the Hindu
Mahasabha office. Many were dressed in wedding dresses and they were accompanied by a wedding band. About 220 students were arrested by the police when they began marching towards the Hindu Mahasabha office, as they had not taken permission for
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has warned that people expressing love in public will be photographed and the photographs will be sent to their families. Couples roaming in public parks are sometimes caught by vigilantes and their hair is cut off and their faces are painted black to humiliate them. Some groups conduct marriages of
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proscribed "gathering in groups and disturbing peace, playing drums or any other music systems loudly, showing of affection in ways that tantamount to obscenity, throwing colours under influence of alcohol, disturbing peace in public places and obstructing traffic, doing vulgar acts in schools,
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officially declared 14 February every year to be
Parents' Day or Matru-Pitru Divas. It had started observing it in 2008 on the advice of Asaram. In 2013 and 2014, separate circulars were issued with instructions. On this day, parents are invited to school and students pray to them.
213:, who is currently serving a life imprisonment for raping a minor girl, said that 14 February should be observed as "Parents Worship Day". He said instead of protesting against Valentine's Day and causing law and order problems, youth should be given an alternative.
190:(unlawful assembly) in all public and private places under the jurisdiction of the Pune police commissioner. They declared that those found violating the order would be punished under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC.
292:"But the move appears to have backfired and been abandoned after it prompted a flood of internet memes, cartoons and jokes by TV hosts about the importance of consent". The suggestion to hug a cow on Valentine's Day has been retracted.
104:, the Shiv Sena often threatens commercial establishments to stop selling goods that celebrate Valentine's Day. The Mumbai city unit chief Nana Wadekar of Shiv Sena has stated that Valentine's Day encourages obscene and vulgar acts.
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became popular among this middle class, but not much in the lower economics classes. Many young and working
Indians live away from their families. This gives, especially women, a choice in their relationships. The interest in
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by the board under the
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The notice also said hugging cows will bring "emotional richness" and increase "individual and collective happiness". According to an article in
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have also been known to throw rotten tomatoes at couples. There also have been reports of people attacking restaurants. Bajrang Dal has been known to put up billboards warning couples to not hold hands.
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said that anyone found celebrating in public places, like malls and restaurants, in the week around
Valentine's Day will be forcibly married. If one of them is non-Hindu, he/she will
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before marriage. They also said that a social media team will be monitoring
Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter, anyone showing love online will also be married off.
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has said that people not wanting violence on the day should not celebrate it. He has also called the festival shameless and contrary to Indian culture. In
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In the
Medieval era, the acceptance of public affection died off. Lovers from different castes have been prosecuted and even sometimes there have been
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announced that his organisation would also protest
Valentine's Day. A group called "Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women" was formed on
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Following the economic liberalisation in the early 1990s, a new middle class emerged who could afford access to foreign TV channels and card shops.
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On 14 February 2015, in response to Hindu
Mahasabha's announcement to marry off couples found celebrating, several students of
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different animals like goat and dog, or dog and horse, to symbolise that the love displayed on this day is fake.
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31:. Almost every year, law and order problems occur on 14 February in many cities in India due to protests.
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and Democratic Youth Federation of India has felicitated those who have entered an inter-caste marriage.
969:"More than 200 Delhi college students detained for protesting outside Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha"
230:
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Activists have been known to raid card shops and burn Valentine's Day cards and flowers. Members of
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Other political parties and religious groups who have been known to protest Valentine's Day are,
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has also increased. Commercial establishments have attempted to cash in on this new sub-culture.
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has said that if his activists catch couples in public on Valentine's Day, they would be
43:. Public display of affection such as kissing is considered unacceptable today in India.
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Various political parties have condemned Valentine's Day as an unwelcome influence of
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support the festival. On this day, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam has performed
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1041:"India tried to rebrand Valentine's Day as 'Cow Hug Day.' Here's how it backfired"
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on India. Some also consider this a scam by corporations for their economic gain.
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27:. There have been protests against the celebrations by groups who consider it a
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123:
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621:"Valentine's Day: Bajrang Dal, VHP activists throw rotten tomatoes on couples"
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and it asked people to mail pink underwear to Muthalik. The protest was named
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1066:"Indian govt withdraws appeal to hug cows on Valentine's Day after criticism"
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Unrequited love is sometimes met with harassment, which is known by the
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and that it is attracting youth for commercial gain. Shiv Sena leader
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66:"; and occasionally it becomes more violent. There have also been
588:"We'll not spare dating couples on Valentine's Day: Muthalik"
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colleges and encouraging anti-social activities" to be under
910:"'Pink chaddi' campaign a hit, draws over 34,000 members"
289:
834:"Worship parents on Valentine's Day, says Asaram Bapu"
997:"India wants to make Valentine's Day 'hug a cow day'"
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to the boy, a ritual which would make them siblings.
854:"Valentine's Day to be Parents' Day in Chhattisgarh"
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1021:
739:
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118:. If the couples resist, then the girl with will
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772:
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677:"Muslims told to stay away from Valentine's Day"
806:"Posted 'I love you' on Facebook? Get married!"
745:"Protests against Valentine's Day celebrations"
734:
224:
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193:In February 2015, Chandra Prakash Kaushik of
649:"ABVP prevents Valentine's Day celebrations"
557:"City cops turn moral police ahead of V-Day"
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209:In 2012, self-proclaimed religious leader,
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371:"Mobocracy and anti Valentine Day protest"
338:"India's fascination with Valentine's Day"
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233:in Mangalore by members of a group called
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941:"Demonstrations against Valentine's Day"
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465:"Hindu and Muslim anger at Valentine's"
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92:has called it an attack of the west on
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434:"India takes Valentine's Day to heart"
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237:. Following which, the group's leader
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147:Students Islamic Organisation of India
23:began to become popular following the
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249:. About, 34,000 people participated.
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406:"Valentine's Day wins Indian hearts"
266:Democratic Youth Federation of India
882:"Underwear protest at India attack"
778:"Valentine attackers held in India"
710:"V-Day Sees Love and Hate in State"
669:
13:
718:. 15 February 2015. Archived from
498:"Tough love for Indian Valentines"
262:Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam
139:Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad
14:
1117:
177:Between February 3 and 15, 2010,
1039:Mogul, Rhea (12 February 2023).
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989:
1:
527:"Debate, or the moral police"
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258:Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam
225:Support and counter protests
7:
525:Amrita Shah (13 Feb 2003).
312:Valentine's Day in Pakistan
295:
277:Jawaharlal Nehru University
34:
10:
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199:be converted to Hinduism
21:Valentine's Day in India
25:economic liberalisation
1101:Controversies in India
715:The New Indian Express
216:In 2015, the state of
74:Criticism and protests
1096:Conservatism in India
270:inter caste marriages
162:Vishwa Hindu Parishad
131:Vishwa Hindu Parishad
1028:. September 8, 2024.
247:Pink Chaddi Campaign
722:on February 6, 2015
205:Parents Worship Day
155:Hindu Makkal Katchi
19:The celebration of
977:. 14 February 2015
974:The Indian Express
949:. 15 February 2013
918:. 14 February 2009
915:The Times of India
890:. 10 February 2009
842:. 29 January 2012.
811:The Times of India
786:. 14 February 2009
753:. 15 February 2013
685:. 14 February 2012
657:. 15 February 2010
629:. 14 February 2014
562:The Indian Express
532:The Indian Express
506:. 14 February 2001
473:. 11 February 2003
442:. 14 February 2000
414:. 14 February 2007
346:. 14 February 2002
231:a pub was attacked
862:. 7 February 2015
814:. 4 February 2015
596:. 6 February 2009
565:. 2 February 2010
229:In January 2009,
29:Western influence
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116:forcibly married
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239:Pramod Muthalik
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112:Pramod Muthalik
80:Western culture
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48:Valentine's Day
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379:. 1 March 2013
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94:Indian culture
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98:Bal Thackeray
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1073:. Retrieved
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1005:. Retrieved
1003:. 2023-02-08
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720:the original
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302:Moral police
286:
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251:
235:Sri Ram Sena
228:
218:Chhattisgarh
215:
208:
192:
176:
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143:Sri Ram Sena
128:
108:Sri Ram Sena
106:
84:
77:
68:acid attacks
57:
53:dating sites
45:
38:
20:
18:
1075:12 February
1050:12 February
981:14 February
866:14 February
839:India Today
184:Section 144
179:Pune police
166:Bajrang Dal
135:Bajrang Dal
102:Maharashtra
64:eve-teasing
16:14 February
1090:Categories
1007:2023-06-28
953:27 January
922:28 January
894:27 January
818:6 February
790:27 January
757:27 January
726:27 January
689:27 January
661:27 January
633:27 January
600:27 January
569:7 December
538:7 December
510:27 January
477:27 January
446:27 January
418:27 January
383:27 January
350:27 January
318:References
307:Love Jihad
254:Tamil Nadu
946:The Hindu
859:The Hindu
750:The Hindu
682:The Hindu
654:The Hindu
626:The Hindu
593:The Hindu
376:The Hindu
171:Shiv Sena
120:be forced
86:Shiv Sena
60:euphemism
1070:Sky News
887:BBC News
783:BBC News
503:BBC News
470:BBC News
439:BBC News
411:BBC News
343:BBC News
296:See also
243:Facebook
122:to tied
35:Overview
186:of the
157:, etc.
110:leader
88:leader
1022:"AWBI"
211:Asaram
124:rakhi
1077:2023
1052:2023
1026:AWBI
983:2015
955:2015
924:2015
896:2015
868:2015
820:2015
792:2015
759:2015
728:2015
691:2015
663:2015
635:2015
602:2015
571:2014
540:2014
512:2015
479:2015
448:2015
420:2015
385:2015
352:2015
279:and
264:and
188:CrPC
164:and
1045:CNN
290:CNN
252:In
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