BHUBANESWAR: February 14 is celebrated every year as Valentine’s Day. It is that time of the year when love is in the air. It is the perfect setting to let your significant others know how much they mean to you. Each day preceding Valentine’s Day hold a special significance. Rose Day is slated to kick start the Valentines Week Thursday.
This Valentine’s Day, gift your loved ones experience of romantic events which they would cherish for the whole year. Multiple popup dinners, couple dance nights, pre-valentines ball, Valentine’s Day games and other events would mark Valentine’s week 2019.
“O my love’s like a red, red rose, that’s newly sprung in June.” These famous lines from Robert Burns’ 1794 poem symbolise the power of love and passion. However, the gifting roses is not just limited among lovers. Every rose has its own meaning and relevance: White for peace, Yellow for friendship and Red for love. Rose Day celebrations mark the commencement of Valentine’s Week. For some, these days are meant to impress their beloved while for some it is just a waste of time.
Bidya Singh, a teacher in a city school, said, “For me, it is a casual day like any other. For working women like me, the day starts in the morning and ends at night. However, this day has its own charm and everyone has a right to celebrate the day according to their wishes.”
Ayushi Reddy, a budding model, said, “I observe the day with close friends because Rose Day is not meant exclusively for lovers. Instead of giving a single rose or a bouquet, I think we better gift a
rose plant to a friend to spread a green ideal. Rose Day has little significance in our society. I mean, I would not be sad if no one gives me a rose, but if someone does, then it would certainly improve my mood. It’s the celebration of friendship as well as love.”
“There’s no harm in celebrating this day except for the fact that we should gift rose plants instead of rose flowers plucked from the plants,” she points out. In recent times, some political activists, owing allegiance to a saffron party, have tried to create disturbance on Valentine ’s Day as they oppose the culture of celebrating such a day. They have humiliated couples at public places like parks and beaches.
In this context, Ashok Arora, a doctor, said, “It’s good that some people are concerned about our Indian culture, but they are protesting against a tradition in a wrong way. Our Indian culture is all about love, harmony, peace and respect for all individuals irrespective of their caste and religion. Valentine’s Day is meant to celebrate love which promotes peace and harmony in the society. Hence, in no way is it demeaning our culture and religion.”
“The so-called activists who are opposed to kissing in public and other love gestures should also stop watching pornography, prevent people from passing comments on girls instead of becoming moral police,” stated Ayushi.
Meanwhile, rose shops in the city are expecting good business on the day. For flower vendor Sashikanta Moharana of Unit I, rose sales usually go brisk on this occasion. Deepak Singh, an event organiser, said, “Nowadays, youngsters do not indulge in romantic activities in public parks for the fear of being offended by vandals. We have organised special events for Valentine Week beginning Rose Day at hotels in the city where we offer them the chance to celebrate the day.”