Yes, it's time again to commemorate Father's Day--a celebration inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting, and to honor fathers, grandfathers and forefathers. Father's Day is celebrated on various dates worldwide, which involves gift-giving, and special dinners to fathers and family-oriented activities. This year many countries, including India will celebrate Father's Day on June 21.

The concept of celebrating Father's Day is very new in India, started less than a decade ago after being imported from western countries, mainly United States. Observing a day in honor of fathers has been appreciated by millions of Indians today, by expressing gratitude for their father or men who are like father. Several schools and cultural societies in India organize various programs on this day. The idea behind such events is to inspire children to show love, respect and caring for their dad. In the same time fathers are also encouraged to spend some quality time with their kids and instill in them noble values and good manners.

Father's Day is a celebration of all the wonderful things that dads do. It's a day to give thanks for their wisdom, principles, confidence, strength and unconditional love. It's a day set aside to make sure dads know how much they are loved every day of the year.
Your father is the one you always turn for advice, quite encouragement and support. He is your guardian and a guide, someone that you can count on and to be always on your side. Anyone can be a father, but it takes a special person to be called “Dad”. He is the one who helped you through your childhood fears and failures, and turned all that he could into successes and dreams. He is the person, whose devotion to his family is marked by gentle strength and guidance, and whose love of life, sense of direction, and down-to-earth wisdom is appreciated by his kith and kin.

It's little things that make dads heroes--things not often seen, sacrifices made, while living out each day's routine. The things he knows he must do, the "being there" when each day's through, and the love that builds up trust between him and his family. There's a certain kind of caring that dads express silently through kindness, generosity, and devotion...and this, with all its quite power, means far more than anything spoken loud. Dads need to be appreciated by one and all, for their love and sacrifices.

Good guys make things happen and get things done with pride. Good guys make a difference in their quiet way and wisely wait to see what's the best direction for their family. Good guys do the right thing, care and pray a lot, and go the distance to see their loved ones through. Good guys make great fathers! No doubt at all.

Father's Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure: Uncles, Stepfathers, Grandfathers, "Big Brothers", and adult male friends. So this Father's Day take time to show your dads, and also to those who acted like your dad how much you appreciate them and what they have meant in your lives. For this kind of acknowledgement would be a greater gift than anything that can be bought at any store.
In the absence of my loving dad who passed away few years ago, I express my heartfelt love and gratitude to my dear brothers Joe and Rudy(Seems sometimes they are quite 'old 'enough to be like my dad!) who have been the fatherly figures in my life. And while commemorating Father's Day I express my sincere feelings to my 'fatherly-brothers' with few thought-provoking quotes:

"Because you are just like a father to me, I have a special place in my heart for you, for being a wonderful presence in my life. When I needed your help, you gave it generously. When I needed your advice, you gave it wisely and thoughtfully. When I needed your friendship, you gave it completely and made it part of me to keep forever. I have in my heart the thankfulness that I found you--to befriend me, believe in me, and celebrate with me. You are just like my father to me, and I love you with all my heart. Happy Father's Day--with love and gratitude on this day and always."

Happy Father's Day To You All!

About The Author Alfie D'Souza is a well know name in Ottawa, Illinois - a suburban community in the outskirts of Chicago.  He is the member of WriteTeam for "The Times".  The Daily Times of Ottawa and The Times-Press of Streator have merged into a new newspaper called "The Times." Alfie is a regular columnist for this newspaper who covers various stories of Indian and Western origin on various events.  He is also a regular contributor for the magazine "Mangalore Today" which is published from Mangalore.