NEW DELHI: In an appeal signed by its secretary S.K. Dutta, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) said that the cow is the backbone of Indian culture and the rural economy, sustaining life, and representing cattle wealth and biodiversity.

“Cow is known as  Kamdhenu and  Gaumata on account of its nourishing nature like a mother, the giver of all, providing riches to humanity. Vedic traditions are almost on the verge of extinction because of the progress of western culture over time. “This issues with the endorsement of the competent authority and on the direction of Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,” it said.

The dazzle of western civilization has made our physical culture and heritage almost forgotten,” the February 8 official appeal had said.

The Animal Welfare Board of India on Friday withdrew its earlier appeal which called for celebrating February 14 as ‘Cow Hug Day’.

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) launched an appeal for a celebration of Cow Hug Day on February 14, 2023, however, it has since been withdrawn, as instructed by the Competent Authority and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Daring.

The Board had urged the public to honour February 14 as Cow Hug Day on February 8, the day that is widely observed as Valentine's Day. The Board claimed that giving a cow a hug would bring "emotional richness" and improve "individual and collective happiness."

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