CHILDREN’S DAY
Fourteenth November each year is celebrated as children’s day all over India. The birthday of Pandit Jawahar lal Nehru, the first prime minster of free India, also falls on that day. It has an importance of its own.
Pandit Nehru had great love for children. He wanted to be amidst them, talk to them and play with them. The children also loved and respected him and called him “Chacha Nehru”.
The day is celebrated by the people of India in a benefitting manner. Early in the morning people began gathering at Shantivan, where Chacha Nehru was cremated, to pay homage to the great leader. The visitors include the President, the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers and high officials. Wreaths are placed at the sammadhi, prayers are held and hymns are chanted by well-known artists of the nation. At other functions held on the day, tributes are paid to Pandit Nehru for his sacrifices, achievements in international politics and peace efforts.
School children organize cultural programmes to celebrate the day. They sing national song and stage short dramas. There are many celebrations, including one at Teen Murti where Nehru lived as prime minister and one at Parliament House where his portrait is garlanded by prominent leaders.