COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMP ON CHILDREN’S DAY TO BE RELEASED

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Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee will release a commemorative postage stamp on Children’s Day at a function in New Delhi tomorrow.

The Department of Posts, on its part, has cherished the Universal Children’s Day and has been celebrating the same with the issue of a special postage stamp every year. The stamp is in the denomination of Rs.5/-

Over the years, the stamps have highlighted themes of relevance for the growth and well being of children like nutrition, shelter, educational facilities, empowerment of girl child etc. In recent years, the practice of issuing stamps depicting paintings by children themselves has been followed. Children’s art makes fascinating study on account of their innocence, richness of imagination and freedom of execution. The Children’s Day stamps, therefore, also provide insights into the minds of the younger generation, into issues that are of concern to them. The Department has also been adding colour to the private world of children through the postage stamps which it issues on important subjects.

The stamp being issued this year carries a detail from a painting by Aakash Anand, which captures the spirit of Holi, India’s most colourful festival. Holi celebrates thearrival of spring and is symbolic of the victory of good over evil. It is also a celebration of joy and hope. The artist has re-created the mood of vibrant joy, through images of dance, music and festivities. The colours used are bright and the execution is bold. The painting had stood first in the nation-wide Stamp Design Competition held in October 2002.

The First Day Cover alongwith the information sheet will be available on sale at all Philatelic Bureaux/Counters and at selected Post Offices.