In India, cows are believed to be the embodiment of gods and goddesses and hence revered as “Gaumata”. Respecting this feeling of millions of Indians, the Government of India recently announced 14th February to be observed as “Cow Hug Day”. Before any question triggers your mind, let’s clarify the goal of this initiative. It is to promote a maternal hug that could improve the emotional richness and general pleasure. Read on to learn more about Cow Hug Day and its benefits.
Hindus make up about 80% of India’s 1.3 billion people. Their spiritual and religious feelings are very well-knit with the wellness of cows. This group of Indians always urge to love and take care of cows as they do for their family members. Respecting this feeling, the petition to recognize February 14 as Cow Hug Day was signed by S.K. Dutta, Secretary of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). AWBI is the organization whose main responsibility is to provide advice on legislative measures for animal welfare.
- How did 14th February become “Cow Hug Day” in India?
- What makes Cow-Hugging a Therapy?
- What is the Science behind Cow-hugging?
- Cow Hug Day vs Valentine’s Day
What makes 14th February “Cow Hug Day” in India?
14th February – the day we all know to be the day of love, Valentine’s Day. On this day, couples express their feeling of love by sharing flowers, and gifts and spending quality time with each other. On this day of love, can’t we demonstrate our feeling of love and respect for the cows? Won’t it look nice if these couples reach out to cow herds and give them warm tight hugs to express their love and sympathy for it?
However, this is not the plan. The observance of Cow Hug Day focuses on a self-care approach. This approach aims to promote the spiritual and mental well-being of all citizens of India. Moreover, most Indians have revered and praised cows for centuries as sacred beings. Additionally, they consider them as a symbol of both the divine and the planet Earth.
We should also remember that the cow is the perfect provider because it can feed people. This is an effort to increase people’s spiritual depth. Although it seems to counter the western perception of Valentine’s Day, yet, it never means so. Indian government planned to rename this as “Cow Hug Day,” to preserve the ancient and holy significance of “Gaumata”.
What makes Cow-Hugging a Therapy?
It’s interesting to note that cow hugging or cuddling has gained popularity in several Western countries over the past few years. Note that, “Koe Knuffelen” (Dutch for “cow hugging”) is a service from the farm owners to promote a self-care approach in some countries, such as the Netherlands. As the public learned about the benefits of cow-hugging treatment, the movement started to grow incredibly popular. Individuals who underwent this therapy raved about how wonderfully it improved their mental health.
The increased prevalence of mental diseases is one of the main global issues. Research reveals that one in four people may experience mental illness at some point in their lives. We suffered a great deal as a result of the global epidemic; the graph of suffering—from depression to loved one loss—quickly rose. Then, a brand-new wellness fad called “cow hugging (Cow Cuddling Therapy)” gained widespread acceptance and turned into a craze that reduces stress by encouraging happiness and relaxation.
According to studies, receiving a decent embrace can be really excellent for our mental and physical health. By activating touch receptors, which are mostly found under the skin and can help lower anxiety, it is possible to reestablish a sense of serenity and affection.
What is the Science behind Cow-hugging?
You must know that there is a science behind our primal impulse to embrace cows. Because cows are bigger, warmer, and furrier than people and have slower heartbeats than us, doing so may increase Oxytocin levels. The hormone oxytocin, commonly referred to as the “cuddle hormone,” makes us feel content and cherished. It’s just one of the reassuring things about support animals.
A single cow hugging session answers several health problems, including the cuddler’s respiratory condition as well as anxiety, tension, melancholy, and despair. Therefore, if you are thinking of skipping cow hug day, you are at a loss. In India, there are farms that charge a reasonable amount for three hours of cow-hugging therapy. Note that, even the cows enjoy these sessions. It benefits everyone involved in a win-win situation. As a result, one should give the concept a try before ridiculing it.
Cow Hug Day vs Valentine’s day
Young couples commemorate their love on Valentine’s Day each year by exchanging gifts, flowers, and other displays of affection. What distinguishes it, though? For the benefit of future generations, what lesson does this behavior impart or what tendency does it tend to foster? Nothing! Exactly Nothing!
Our elders claim that this behavior has done nothing more than give “love” a bad rep. Why not switch to Cow Hug Day to show our source and nurturer that we truly care about them? It’s a practice that inspires us to resurrect our Vedic tradition and express our love for “Gaumata.” Hugging a cow is more like sitting down and telling her how much we appreciate her.
The idea of love has been tarnished by Valentine’s Day. Younger generations believe that showing their lovers their love merely requires exchanging a few signs of affection, like flowers and presents, and sharing millions of social media posts featuring them.
Can we place value on a love that is devoid of gratitude and love itself? No, we don’t believe that. A project that enables people to express their love without spending a lot of money has been launched by the Indian government. The treatment is not only affordable, but it also offers a number of advantageous health advantages.
