Mahadeep Singh Jamwal
In recent decades, India has witnessed a surge in the observance of imported celebrations such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Parents’ Day, Valentine’s Day, Friendship Day, Grandparents’ Day, Daughter’s Day, and Son’s Day. These “days of love” have found prominence not just on social media but also in schools, offices, malls, and even homes. While the sentiments behind them may seem heartwarming, the shift raises a deeper question: Are we replacing a culture of lifelong reverence and duty with one-day performances driven by social validation and market forces?
In Western societies, the concept of such days emerged from a vacuum created by fragmented family structures, emotional distances, and the rise of individualism. In these cultures, children often live independently and far from parents; the emotional connect tends to wane with time. Therefore, symbolic dates such as Mother’s Day or Friendship Day serve as scheduled reminders to reconnect – often celebrated with cards, flowers, or social media posts. As one observes, “In fast-paced lives with fractured ties, one-day tributes help love arise.”
However, in Indian culture, particularly within the Hindu worldview, relationships are not occasional expressions but eternal bonds that form the very fabric of Dharma. As proclaimed in the Taittiriya Upanishad: “Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava” – “Regard your mother and father as divine.” This profound wisdom does not prescribe a ritual for a day; it instructs a way of life. Our relationships with parents, siblings, teachers, and even friends are based on duty (kartavya), gratitude, and daily acts of service (seva), not on calendar reminders.
Our ancient epics offer vivid illustrations of this value system. Shravan Kumar, revered not for a celebration but for a life of devotion, carried his blind parents on his shoulders for a pilgrimage. Bhishma Pitamah gave up his right to the throne so his father could remarry, and Lord Rama walked away from his kingdom to uphold his father’s promise. These were not symbolic gestures; they were lifetimes of self-sacrifice and unwavering duty. The concept of friendship too has been commercialized through Friendship Day, reducing a sacred bond to keychains and colored bands. Contrast this with the bond between Lord Krishna and Sudama – a relationship rooted in humility, loyalty, and unspoken love. Even Valentine’s Day finds little relevance in a civilization where love is reflected in the devotion of Meera for Krishna or the deep companionship of Sita and Rama – not in heart-shaped balloons but in shared pain and steadfastness.
Interestingly, the spread of these Western-origin celebrations is not uniform across India. Urban and metropolitan regions such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad are far more inclined toward adopting Western cultural practices. These cities, being hubs of multinational corporations, elite education, and global media exposure, have fostered a lifestyle where Western celebrations have become the norm. Influenced by globalized work culture, English-medium education, social media trends, and aggressive consumerism, the youth in these cities are more likely to mark these days with Instagram posts, surprise parties, and gifts.
In contrast, culturally rooted regions such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Bihar, interior Rajasthan, and much of rural South India retain stronger ties to traditional practices. Here, family systems remain joint, rituals are observed daily, and values are passed down not through apps but through lived experience. In these places, a mother is not honoured once a year but revered each day through touch, service, and prayer. As the Garuda Purana details, ancestral reverence is not about cards and cakes but about shraddh, rituals, silence, and remembrance.
This growing inclination toward superficial celebration over soulful connection should concern us. Posting a selfie with one’s mother on Mother’s Day and ignoring her needs throughout the year is not love. Giving gifts to a father on Father’s Day and disregarding his wisdom in everyday life is not respect. The culture of “one-day love” is gradually eroding the depth of lifelong obligations.
It is time for reflection. In India, relationships are not calendar-bound. We don’t need a Friendship Day to value a friend, a Parents’ Day to respect our elders, or a Valentine’s Day to cherish love. Our culture teaches us that love, friendship, and devotion are daily offerings, not digital displays. These values are sanctified through actions, not celebrated with hashtags.
Let us not replace our sacred traditions with social media performances. Let us remember that a civilization that gave the world the concept of Dharma does not need imported days to honor human bonds. Because in India, “From sacred seva to one-day selfies – what are we becoming?” is not just a question. It is a call for cultural awakening.