New Delhi: In India Father’s Day is celebrated every year on the third Sunday of June. This year, the special day falls on June 20.
The occasion pays tribute to fathers or father figures as they play a vital role in nurturing children. In the attempt to appreciate this paternal bond, and share this universal feeling of gratitude towards fatherhood, the day is observed with great enthusiasm and love.
The history of Father’s Day dates back to the early 20th century. A mining mishap in West Virginia, United States on July 5, 1908 killed hundreds of men which led to the day being celebrated for the first time. Grace Golden, the daughter of a dedicated reverend proposed a Sunday service for all the men who lost their lives in the accident.
Two years later, Sonora Smart Todd, the daughter of an American civil war veteran, William Jackson Smart, suggested that Father’s Day should be celebrated to honour the role of fathers. William, a widower, raised Sonora and her five younger brothers single handedly and selflessly. She wanted the day to be celebrated on her father’s birthday on June 5. The day was later pushed to the third Sunday of June. Over the years, Sonora started campaigning to promote Father’s Day on a national level.
