What Makes Mothers Day Popular In India?

By Author: Sima Patel
Total Articles: 5
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India, the land of festivals, is known since long for its ability to accept and amalgamate diverse cultures and influences. From religion to languages to ethnicities and races, India seems to contain and accept almost every global influence it has been exposed to throughout its history. The English language is a prime example of India’s ability to take what is most useful and positive from each of its experiences.

International festivals like Mothers Day and Valentine’s Day are a recent example of India’s ability to accept foreign influences. There are several reasons behind this and we will look at the Top 5 of these reasons to explore why international festivals are gaining acceptance in India.

• A day set aside for celebrating motherhood and for thanking one’s mother for all that she has done struck a chord with Indians. The family unit and the parent-child relationship are extremely central to Indian culture. In depictions of popular Indian culture through the decades (especially in Bollywood movies), the mother is given an exalted position in society. In Hindu religion, the mother has been depicted ...
... as a Goddess since time immemorial. Is it any wonder then, that Indians accepted the foreign festival of Mothers day with open arms since gratitude towards one’s mother is universal in nature and is not a feeling that is specific to any one country or culture. The meaning of the day tied in beautifully with Indian values and this is the main reason behind its acceptance.

• Globalization has made the world of business more competitive than ever before. It has also brought the world closer than ever before - from clothes to cold drinks to burgers, the Indian middle and upper class wear the same brands, eat the same burgers and drink the same cold drinks like their western counterparts. This trend was bound to increase the sense of acceptance and affinity Indians have with the western world and vice-versa. Indians now feel - if we can dress like them, eat like them and drink like them, why can’t we celebrate their festivals as well? The internet has enabled more intermingling between the people of the world than ever before. A person living in Patna in India could chat with another living in Hawaii thanks to social networking websites and internet chat. This has enabled free flow of information and has given everyone an opportunity to know and learn about other cultures.

• By 2012, almost every Indian middle class family has at least 1 relative or friend who is a non-resident Indian. Meeting with NRI relatives and friends and seeing their changed mindsets and acceptance of foreign values promotes the acceptance of international festivals in India as well. When Indian children observe their NRI cousins celebrating Mothers Day, they become inquisitive and want to celebrate that too.

• With improved economic prosperity, more Indians are travelling to western countries than ever before. Many people are able to send their children to study in foreign educational universities as well. The result is exposure to all that is good in other cultures. This has also contributed to acceptance of International festivals in India since such exposure mostly tends to make people more open, liberal and accepting.

• Unlike religious festivals like Diwali or Thanksgiving, which are usually celebrated by people who follow a particular religion, Mothers Day is neutral to all religions. It doesn’t identify itself with any particular religion, making its acceptance easier than religious festivals. This fact also increases its coverage since any person following any religion can celebrate the day.

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