This post is inspired by a message from a friend sent on Friendship day. The message stated the history of the Friendship day as “In 1935, American Government had killed a person on 1st Saturday of august, the next day his friend committed suicide. In his memory, American Government had declared 1st Sunday as the Friendship day.” In an attempt to know more about the reason behind this much celebrated day, I discovered that in 1935, with the devastating effects of the First World War still showing and increasing hostilities, mistrust and hatred between countries providing the perfect conditions for another imminent battle, there was a greater need for friendship and camaraderie not only among nations but also among individuals. So the US congress decided to dedicate a day in the honor of friends. The idea got caught up very fast and in no time become an international festival.
In tune with the spirit of the occasion, people dedicate Friendship Day festival to their friends. But off late, Friendship Day has been commercialized to a great extent in India. Days before the festival, gift marketers run an extensive campaign to lure the people to buy cards and gifts for their friends. Restaurateurs too try to entice people by offering special discounts or holding bashes. The youngsters have been strongly impacted by this commercialization and the ever increasing peer pressure has underlined the importance of celebration of this day.
But amidst all this commercialization and peer pressure to celebrate Friendship, have we lost the very essence of friendship? Is it about exchange of cards, gifts and friendship band or is it about exchange of thoughts? Is it the number of friends that matter or having just a single friend who understands you and stand by you in thick and thin of life.
Thinking about friendship, the first example that comes to my mind is the friendship between Krishna & Sudama. The friendship that did not demand anything but believed in giving. The friendship that did not require words to express but thoughtful actions.
I feel that true friends are actually the rare treasures that very few people posses, so if you have one, make sure that you make your friend realize that how special he / she is and why wait for a Friendship day for that. It should be celebrated every single day, every single hour, every single moment. So I wish happy friendship to all.
Very true Kiran..."Friendship is a treasure". It is as important in life as anything we need to survive. We all are incomplete without friendship. A true friend always stand by you in all your good deeds. Simultaneously, protects you from bad. We should keep good care of this rare treasure. Once it will go, we will be like a lifeless soul.
ReplyDeleteHi Kiran. people who dont know you will think u as a good friend through ur blog as you made an attempt to write something for them. bu people who know you knows one more thing is that you are the bestest friend one can ever get. you are friends with ur family, colleagues and everyone
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