Valentine’s Day

As I step out of my house, I find that there is a festive mood all around and I am flooded with offers wherever I go, be it a hotel or a department store. There are heart-shaped cushions and balloons, all in red hanging everywhere, and I realize the Valentine’s Season has begun. I wouldn’t call it Valentine’s Day, it’s rather the Valentine’s Season, as the preparations for the D day begin almost as soon as the New Year celebrations die out. Valentine’s Day means a lot; I mean it means different things to different people. If you are to classify people on what Valentine’s Day means to them, here is what it will look like.

To some it is a very Special day; the day that symbolizes love, the auspicious day to propose to their loved one(s!), a reason to hang-out with their sweethearts and shower gifts. To yet others who are fond of surprises, it is another day to express their love in the form of gifts and cards.

To some, it is just another day in their life. Either because they love each day and don’t wait for a special day to express their love or they have lost all hope in love and so the day just passes by.

To many others the day means business. It is not just the day; it’s rather the Season, that means business or money. I am not being rude, but am talking about people in the business of selling cards and gift articles, jewels and watches, hotels and tour operators and many others who mint money this season. Anything that carries a heart; be it a diamond pendant or a simple card is what the customer is looking at, based on his budget. I was surprised when I recently saw a fast food outlet offering heart-shaped Pizzas! It’s all about novel ideas to lure the customers. The same applies to the entertainment industry, where movie makers plan their releases during this week expecting the lovebirds to boost their collection. The media also plays its role with special competitions and prizes, to gain by improving their TRPs or readership.

To a few others, it’s the day to exhibit their cultural and traditional values by ransacking shops that sell anything related to Valentine’s Day. I am talking about certain political parties who try to contribute in preserving our values by destroying whatever is alien to our culture. They cannot be blamed as they are doing what they know best; enrich themselves or destroy others.

There is one last category of people who just live the day without knowing that it is Valentine’s Day or what it means; even if you tell them they don’t care as they have other important things in life to attend to.

The concept of Valentine’s Day was alien to India and has been promoted in India since maybe the 90s, or even earlier. It is one among the many Days like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Friendship Day which has slowly crept into our calendars with the need to imitate the West, and promoted mainly for business purposes. But if there is something special about the day, what’s the harm in enjoying it, be it the West or the East? Whatever said and done, it’s a day of celebration for many and there is love in the air, so I wish you all a great day, whether you choose to spend the day with your beloved or just live it as yet another day.