Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August every year. There is indeed a story behind dedicating this day to friendship. It is said that once the US government had killed a person, who had a friend who committed suicide in the sorrow of his friend’s death. Honouring the depth of their friendship, this day was named as friendship day in America in 1935 and thus began the celebration of Friendship Day. Following the popularity and success of Friendship Day in US, several other countries adopted the tradition of dedicating a day to friends. Today, Friendship Day is enthusiastically celebrated by several countries across the world including India. In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie – the Pooh as the world’s Ambassador of Friendship.
Importance of Friendship in Bible: The Bible, the primary text of the western civilization, reflects upon friendship as the bond that forms the foundation to human faith, trust and companionship. Following verses from the bible aptly portray the importance of friends “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13-15
Importance of Friendship in Mahabharata In the famous Hindu epic ‘Mahabharata’, Lord Krishna demonstrates the many colors of friendship – affection, romance, brotherhood, protection, guidance, intimacy and even teasing. Friendship is all about these and much more. The character of Karna is the embodiment of friendship who prepared to fight even his own brothers for the sack of friendship.
Friendship is divine: Friendship is always giving and not asking or taking.
Friendship is one of the most beautiful relationships that has evolved since the beginning of the human race. Other than immediate blood relations, friends are the most valued persons in one’s life. Friendship usually develops with the same age groups with more or less identical nature and interests. Friends usually spend whatever time they find in pursuing their common interests, confiding in each other about their joys and sorrows and coming to the help of those who are in need emotionally or otherwise. It is but natural that one particular day in a year has been set aside to celebrate this beautiful relationship.
A friend removes our loneliness and brings a smile to our face. Only a friend helps to overcome our problem, stress and loneliness. Sometimes many relatives do not help, but a true friend helps us.
Friendship is a great feeling: As long as we feel friendly towards our fellow human beings and all other living beings there will be no hostility and all of us can lead a harmonious joyful life. More serious friendships are formed when one enters puberty and achieves certain level of maturity. the latter allows one to forge fellowship with those who share the same interests, passion as well as similar moral and religious values. Thus, it is not surprising to observe that in some Asian country, mature students at the upper secondary level have friends of the same ethnic and religious backgrounds. At the university level, it is even more apparent. Even the Ministry of education has voiced concern over this phenomenon where polarization is prominent. The Indians, Chinese and Malays hardly mix with each other and are seen usually in the company of their own kind. One of the main reasons for polarization among university students is that as they reach a certain level of maturity, common binding factors such as religion, customs and traditions play important role in selection of friends or mates. In addition, since majority of these students come from rural backgrounds where there is not much cultural interchange, they feel rather awkward to forge friendships with students of other races. However, this does not mean the students are racist or suffer from superiority complex. Thus, the university should introduce more programs that allow cultural and religious mixing and understanding of the other. Nevertheless, in the working world, a different scenario prevails. One finds Indians, Chinese and other races forging stable and long lasting friendships. This is most probably due o the fact that to be productive in one’s work, one has to believe in team work. The latter actually enhances the bond between the workers and eventually long lasting friendships are formed. In fact, this situation has even led to many inter racial marriages between the three major races. the products of the intermarriages are very unique as they have friends and relatives from both ethnic backgrounds.
Celebration : On the occasion of Friendship Day, many friends congratulate their friends by giving them flowers and cards and hanging out with their friends. They happily embrace or cherish this moment, by hugging each other. Many times friends keep a small party at their home or friends house on the occasion of this friendship day. They seek just one chance to meet their friends on this day. On this day, each friend gives a friendship band to another friend. Friendship day has great importance in life. A person can share his happiness and sorrows and all kinds of emotions with a friend. Friendship can come in any discipline of life and anyone can be a friend like a father can be a friend of his daughter. In the same way, a mother-son can be a friend, a husband-wife can be a friend. It is not necessary that a person should be friends only with the same age groups. True friendship is also seen with animals, where there are honesty and loyalty, such friends prove very helpful for us. True friendship always shows the right path to the person. Friends are the second priority of a person after the family. One spends every good and bad moment with a friend. The habits a person carries in life can be the result of friendship. Man is a social animal and cannot live alone and needs friends to survive. A person should always choose his friends carefully. A true friend should not be ridiculed or lost for any reason. Conversely, you should stay away from friends who take advantage of you. They will never come to your help at your bad times and will keep you in trouble from time to time, hence friendship is very important in our life. However, if friends are bad, they can also be dangerous. This one day reminds us of a few moments spent with our friends. Actually, friendship day plays an important role in our life. If you have a true friend, then in life, you can actually go ahead in every field. On friendship day many social and cultural organizations also celebrate friendship day and give congratulations. Friendship day is a symbol of love of friends. However, pets also considered as good friends for life, being a part of human they are the best friends for life to understand our all emotions throughout.
Conclusion : There is a saying “A friend in need is a friend indeed” and Friendship Day has great importance to awaken the feeling or need of that friend. We should forget everything and congratulate our friends on Friendship Day, meet with them, spend some moments with them, dine with them, and hang out in joy with them because our friends are the best. In fact, friends are very important to us. Whenever we feel lonely in life, a friend removes our loneliness and brings a smile to our face. Only a friend helps to overcome our problem, stress and loneliness. Sometimes many relatives do not help, but a true friend helps us.
(The Author is pursuing Bachelor’s Degree In English Literature At Government Degree College Sumbal Sonawari. Views are his own)
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