Meet them to know how it feels to have Feb 29 as birthday!

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, February 28

Anmol Chaudhary is more excited about his birthday this year. A Class VII student at Army Public School, he has a leap day birthday, which means for only the third time in his life he will be able to celebrate turning an year older on his actual birthday.

Talking to The Tribune, Anmol’s mother Ruchi Chaudhary said he was too young four years ago to understand what makes his February 29 birthday different.

“Now, that he is grown up and has learnt about leap year in his books, he is clear about this once-in-a-four-year phenomenon. He says that he like it because he was born on this special day which makes him different from others,” she said.

Sharing Anmol’s plans for his birthday, she said he had to appear for an exam tomorrow. But in the evening, we have planned a birthday party for him.

“He is very excited. We have invited his friends and he is simply waiting for the day,” she added.

Like Anmol, the day is equally significant for many other leaplings born on this day.

Amardeep Yadav (36), a head trainer and manager at a local gym, said: “I don’t get to celebrate my birthday on the actual date every year. Over the years, I have started believing that my birthday is on February 28 or March 1 and get cakes and gifts on both days.”

“While it’s great having two days of celebrations, I like to celebrate my birthday in a special way, in a leap year. I will spend time with my family. I am sure my students at the gym and friends would be more excited for my birthday and would be planning to surprise me,” Yadav said, adding that he could not think of anything unpleasant about being born on February 29 and that it’s a special day for him.

Meanwhile, Promila Tiwari, who is in her sixties, has especially travelled to America to celebrate her birthday with her family. In a telephonic conversation with The Tribune, Megha, daughter of Promila, said: “I live in Canada and my brother in Australia, we both have travelled to America and called our parents there to celebrate the special day of our mother,” she said.

“We have been celebrating her birthday every year on February 28 and March 1. The celebrations begin with a cake, my mother attending lunch with friends and dinner with the family. This year, we are having a family get-together. Hence, it’s special for her,” she said.

Another Jalandhar-based elderly couple Mohinder Singh Sidhu and Balbir Kaur Sidhu will be celebrating their 60th anniversary today. Talking about the marriage anniversary of her parents, Roopinder Kaur, who works as a teacher, said they share a pure bond and the date whether it’ Feb 28 or 29, it hardly matters to them. “Though I am occupied these days, so we had not planned something grand, but yes we will be celebrating with a cake and a special dinner,” she said.

Likewise, OP Rana, manager of a local hotel, who will be celebrating his 28th anniversary, has a surprise plan for his wife Divya Rana.

“I am out of town due to work. Hence, I have arranged a 12 am bouquet and cake delivery for my wife”, he said.

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