From gifting flowers, chocolates and gadgets to spending quality time with close ones and carrying philanthropic activities, there is a common shift in the mode of celebration of Valentine’s Day this year.
Naman Agarwal, a city resident who runs a pet adoption organisation, said that there has been a change in the trend of celebrating Valentine’s Day from past few years. There are several animal lovers who adopt homeless pets as part of the Valentine’s Day celebrations and promise to provide shelter.
There are several social organisations that carry plantation drive and take pledge to protect the trees as part of the celebration.
“In tune with the spirit of the occasion, there are several people who dedicate Valentine’s Day to their best friends. Most choose to celebrate the entire day in the loving company of their dearest friends. In a similar way, we ask the youths to also treat plants as their friends and spend some time with them to make a better society,” said an official of Eco Club.
Vishal Singh, a professional working in an insurance company, said, “I celebrate Valentine's Day with my parents. As I live away from them, I miss them too much. This is why I have taken a week off to pour my feelings over them. I would spend time with them on the day. Nothing is more satisfying than this”
Pappu Sardar, the well-known fan of the Bollywood heartthrob Madhuri Dixit wants youth to worship their parents on Valentine’s Day.
“There is a dire need for kids and young adults to express love for their parents and keeping that in mind, Valentine’s Day should be celebrated as worship day,” he said while educating youths at the commercial hub of Sakchi.
He said that couples face stiff resistance from members of the moral policing brigade for expressing their love publicly on Valentine Day. There should not be costly cards or expensive gift materials to present to their Valentines however, a message worth million dollars must be exchanged between the youths that would probably go a long way in shaping the characters of the potential executives and administrators of the country.
"The basic purpose behind spreading message on Valentine Day is to ensure the young minds inculcate the values and ideals of our rich Indian culture and, don't just get swayed by the imported festivals promoted largely, by the multinational companies," said Pappu.