Children pamper dads with shopping spree, movie night
This Father’s Day saw an emotional outpouring of gratitude and affection across the tricity with youngsters making heartfelt gestures to honour the men who quietly shaped their lives. From shopping sprees at bustling malls, thoughtful health check-ups and family movie outings to arcade game dates with kids, the day became a celebration of fatherhood in all its forms.
The CP67 and Elante malls were buzzing with children buying gifts and shops putting up beautiful displays dedicated to dads. An outlet at CP67 has offered free coffee to all fathers over the weekend (June 14 and 15), drawing early crowds for breakfast meet-ups. “It’s a small gesture, but it made him feel truly special,” said Shivam Kapoor, who brought his father for breakfast and coffee. “The smile on his face was priceless.”
At Elante, several stores rolled out exclusive Father’s Day catalogues with handcrafted wallets, belts and leather accessories. “Their timeless pieces perfectly reflect my dad’s understated elegance,” said 25-year-old Preeti Sharma, picking a vintage-style satchel as a gift.
Scenes of young adults gently nudging their fathers into stores played out throughout the day. For many, it was about reversing roles —spoiling the man who rarely bought anything for himself. “I’ve always seen my father spending on us, never on himself,” shared 24-year-old Preetinder Kaur, who took her 62-year-old father to a lifestyle store in Elante. “Today, I forced him to pick what he liked, not just what’s practical. It was amusing to see him try on sunglasses like a teenager. He kept asking — main theek lagda haan.”
Not all tributes were material. Many chose to prioritise their fathers’ health by booking preventive check-ups. “I’ve never seen him get a full body check-up for the past decade,” said Sanchit Bhasin, 21, who took a day off to accompany his father to a diagnostic centre. “He asked ‘Tu mere naal doctor de naal kyun aa reha hai’. I told him it’s my turn to worry now.”
Healthcare centres across the city noted a marked uptick in bookings. A lab technician at a pathologist clinic, shared, “It’s encouraging to see young people making health a part of their celebrations. Almost many booked last minute test-kits for Sunday, mostly house visits to surprise their fathers.”
At VR Punjab Mall, three siblings pooled in money to gift their widowed father a smartwatch. “He raised us on a clerk’s salary,” said 20-year-old Venus Bansal, adding “He deserves to know how proud we are of him.”
For others, the celebration was more nostalgic. Several youngsters took their fathers to the cinema — reliving old Sunday rituals. “Watching a film with my dad reminded me of when I was little and he’d buy popcorn for both of us, but let me eat most of it,” said 22-year-old Divya Singla. “Just being there, sitting beside him, was a perfect moment.”
Meanwhile, younger fathers celebrated in their own style — by being kids again. At play zones in malls and family entertainment centres, many were seen crawling through obstacle tunnels, sliding down plastic spirals and competing in arcade games with their children. “I think I had more fun than my daughter,” said Karan Verma, father of two. “She made me go through every game. She beat me at air hockey and called me ‘the slowest dad ever’— the best compliment I’ve ever had!”
From mall corridors ringing with laughter to hospital lobbies filled with quiet pride, this Father’s Day reminded everyone of the power of small gestures — and the joy of giving back to the man who never asked for anything.
Chandigarh