Lohri celebrations dedicated to the girl child this year

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 13

Dedicating the festival of Lohri to the girl child this year, a strong message to save and nurture daughters was sent across as several educational institutes and NGOs spread the message. While Lohri is celebrated with added excitement on the birth of a male child, a common sentiment to encourage and celebrate the girl child was shared through the festivities.

The Nanhi Chaan foundation celebrated Lohri for the girl child in association with DAV International School. Anjana Gupta, Principal, DAV International School, and Harpal Singh, Chairman, Nanhi Chhaan Foundation, organised a special cultural bonanza on the theme ‘Kudiyan Di Lohri’, with an objective to create awareness among the masses regarding burning issues such as gender ratio, dowry, female foeticide, etc.

“The plight of a decreasing number of girls on the one hand and the dwindling green belt on the other, with every passing year is disturbing. It’s time when everybody should make an effort and pave the way for a better future. Therefore, it is necessary to educate people about the consequences of such social evils and precautionary measures that need to be taken,” said, co-coordinator of Nanhi Chhaan Foundation Sanjay Joshi. He appealed to the people to collectively encourage Lohri for Girl Child, to bring an attitudinal change in society, where the male child alone is celebrated.

Sukhbir Kaur Mahal, Principal, Khalsa College for Women, too, stressed on the need to educate girls, which would finally lead to the change of their status and place in society. “We need to change the mindset and girls are scaling newer heights, even doing better than boys in many respects. The gradual change is for the good, but a better tomorrow for girls needs extensive awareness. A newborn girl child equally deserves Lohri celebrations, a trend confined earlier to the newborn boys alone.”

A popular local mall, too, in association with like-minded partners, hosted ‘Dhiyan di Lohri’ by promoting the concept of ‘Save the Girl Child’ with fun-filled cultural activities. The awareness campaign was aimed at strengthening and spreading the message of ‘Save The Girl Child’, among the people of Amritsar, Dr Prodipta Sen, executive director of the mall, emphasised on small beginnings, “As a social and moral responsibility, such initiatives help change perceptions and break social limitations.” Virsa Vihar had a full attendance of city-based artistes and prominent literary names gathered to celebrate Lohri and it was once again dedicated to the girl child. Voice of Amritsar, too, supported the idea of a Lohri for the girl child, “Equal oppourtunities, equal treatment, equal respect and equal status" is a right of any child, gender notwithstanding. Celebarting Lohri on the birth of a child is a symbol of happiness and we need to welcome the girl child through Lohri celebrations,” said Seenu Arora, president, Voice of Amritsar. The Guru Gobind Singh Park Association also joined in celebrations along with Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi, who hailed the achievements of girls in the field of education, sports, art and literature.