Spirit of friendship be fostered and nurtured for personal and social well being: Special on Friendship Day

International Friendship Day, observed on the first Sunday of August (August 3 in the year 2025), is meant to celebrate the special bonds among friends, According to the UN, friendship is more than a social and emotional bond when nurtured across cultures and communities that works as a blueprint for reconciliation.

In most Eastern cultures, Bhava or Bhavana is viewed as a manifested inner feeling which is worthy of reflection and meditation on to make an action self-less.

In Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, feeling of self-less friendship, called Maitri Bhava or Sakha Bhava, seen as amity, caring affection and spirit of good being has been valued as a spiritual trait.

Therefore, spirit of friendship can be fostered, nurtured and mobilized and it is worth doing. A network of close friends is always is good for social and personal wellbeing since can confide in friends more than anyone else.

It has been reported that most young people commit suicide since they do not have friends to confide in and thus do not have any social support

HAIKU

Feeling of friendship -

Social support of well being -

Acceptance of 'being.'

~*~

True friendship allows

To be, respect differences

To find life’s meaning

~*~

Spirit of friendship

Creates solidarity, amity

That's 'maitri bhava'

~*~

Imbibe friendship sense

To engages others as an equal,

As bosom buddies

~*~

To endure friendship

Foster, thrive maitri bhava

To respect, value life