Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day Readers!! I was surfing through the newspapers this morning to search for news of protest against Valentines Day by Shivsena. No wonder!! I found one. Read this !!

The Shiv Sena activists broke up a party organised in a hotel in Mumbai on Valentine’s Day seems to have had the desired effect. The hotel has decided to stay away from any such party this year.

In fact, a senior employee who reportedly was the brain behind last year’s party quit after the incident in which nearly 50 couples had to run for safety after Sena activists led by its deputy district president Shirish Chauhan assaulted them and ransacked the venue, Vraj hotel.

Shirish Chauhan seemed a content man. “We had taught them a lesson last year. This year, no one has dared put up cards, posters or plan celebrations for Valentine’s Day. And if anyone dares to do so, he may face action from our side,” he warned before adding, “We obey the orders and feelings of Balasaheb Thackeray. We need not to learn love from Western society; we are people from the country of Krishna.”

Last year, the Shiv Sena had organised a drama festival to counter the influence of Valentine’s Day. But they were infuriated on hearing of the party in Hotel Vraj and. Sena activists rushed to the spot and disrupted the party. The organisers claimed that it was not a Valentine’s Day party. Acting on their complaint, police had arrested over 30 accused, including Chauhan.

This year, police want to prevent any untoward incident. “We have asked organisers to inform us of any celebrations this year. As far as we know, there are no celebrations this year. If they desire to celebrate, they can get police protection on completing the necessary formalities.”

The news talks about how Shivsena has taught a lesson to a hotel owner last year on celebrating Valentines Day and how the hotel has not dared to have a celebration this year. Well.. we still call it Democracy.

Let us sneek into what is Valentines day and why we celebrate it?

The History of Valentine's Day

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

So it's clear that the purpose of Valentines Day was probably very different when it was started. But later it was commercialised into a pure money making event. The Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas.

India is not far behind. I remember my college days and how fancy it was to celebrate Valentines day. Even today the craze still remains. The shops are full of cute shaped & Red colored greeting cards & other gift articles. It's a special day for which lover boy awaits so that he can disclose his emotions towards his beloved. Not sure how girls feel about this day. But I am sure they wait impatiently to hear from the guy they secretly adore.

No doubts.. Love is the most beautiful feeling a human has gifted with & No wonder if this has been commercialised as well.

But even then Shivsena's protest against it is baseless. It's a democratic country and everyone has right to celebrate their emotions. I have personally seen the protest by these activist. They harrass the couples who meet to express their love. I have seen these couples being abused badly for carrying the roses & cards in their hands.

Never mind.. this will take time to die down. But surely this trend is going to go away. One day youth in Mumbai will come together and no one will be able to stop them to celebrate the day they deserve to enjoy. But guys... make sure you are not stalking the girls forcefully... nor you are annoying anyone with your behaviour.. and definately... No hugs and kisses in public places !!

- Mumbaikar