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Introduction Valentine’s Day is celebrated as a symbolic day of love, a
tradition of the Christian community accepted the world over in many cultures.
The festival is named after Saint Valentine, a Christian Martyr. The day marks
the flourishing of courtly love and a day to strengthen relationships between
couples. There is a fixed day in the Gregorian calendar for celebrating
Valentine’s Day, 14th of February. The day however has met its share
of criticism for allegedly corrupting the sanctity of the cultures of many
countries. Many Islamic countries and parts of India oppose Valentine’s Day for
its Occidental allegiance and a commercial and an alleged perverted packaging.
History of
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is celebrated as a commemoration of the
spirit of love and affection between lovers. The tradition was popularized by
Pope Gelasius 1 in the year 496 AD. Pope Paul VI removed the day from the
Gregorian calendar in the year 1969 and later added by popular culture. It is
said that Saint Valentine who was martyred was buried on February the 14th
at Via Flaminia. The day is celebrated both as a day for lovers as well as a
day of Commemoration in the calendar of the Church of England and in certain
parts of the Anglican Communion. Renaissance was one of the reasons of its
continuance beyond the medieval period.
Activities
During Valentine’s Day
Goa: Goa is the
popular destination of love-struck couples for Valentine’s Day. You can find a
lot of couples celebrating their love in this beach paradise as they do not
have to worry about the moral police. Restaurants, gift shops and diners gear
up to welcome these couples. The local newspapers will be filled will love messages
and quotes. A lot of tourists choose Goa as their favorite destination to visit
during Valentine’s Day. The vibrant night life, ambience and the beaches surely
add spice to the romance.
Sikkim: Valentine’s
Day, as said earlier, is a day for the celebration of Courtly Love. Hence, this
day couples get together to celebrate their relationship. In the Northeastern
region of India, especially in Sikkim, the day is marked as the beginning of
the Sikkim Snow Festival which is a 15 days long event in the snowy hills of
Sikkim. Besides the usual activities of the Day, like exchanging cards with
amorous texts on them, or giving each
other confectionaries, chocolates, or red roses or going
out to eat, during the Sikkim snow festival, couples can enjoy specific
activities particularly organised for the day. The activities include nature
tours, cultural activities, various competitions which are audience
participatory, especially for the couples and an attractive shopping experience
of traditional merchandize.
Darjeeling, West
Bengal : A similar colour is seen in the hill city of Darjeeling in the
state of West Bengal. Darjeeling is as it is known for being a romantic retreat
and popular culture and art. The city sees itself drowned in the colour red
with many gifts shop selling merchandize for the couples to gift each other.
The best thing to do during Valentine’s
Day in Darjeeling is to either visit the Darjeeling Café that has special offers and celebration
on the 14th of February or to roam the city streets that lights up
with life thronged by local food and goods. If there is love in the air, then
Darjeeling and Sikkim is where one can find it.
Ludhiana, Punjab:
Hotels in Ludhiana, Punjab, have music and food flowing on this day, which
makes it more special for the visitors.
Chocolate Box Restaurant has Belgian chocolate ready for the couples. Sarovar
Portico Hotel has organized a buffet dinner. Gigabite Restaurant, Geoffrey
Restaurant, Park Plaza Hotel,
Hotel A and Hotel Keys are some of the numerous hotels that have special food
and programs for the couples on Valentine’s Day.
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