Valentine's day is loving all our close ones

Historically Valentine's Day has really got nothing to do with individual love. It is celebrated to commemorate the martyrdom or honouring of Saint Valentine who was beheaded by emperor Claudius-II. I think there are other stories as well and later on by it was associated by the tradition of courtly love which was an act of chivalry of Knights for their ladies. So technically people who are Indians are celebrating a beheading which has nothing to do with them. Indians are famous and want to remain famous for their heard mentality. Anything in the West has to be emulated by us.

Now for the Indian cultural part. In India Valentine's day is driven more by fashion and less by emotions. Gift galleries, clubs, pubs, hotels etc. en-cash emotions and earn a moolah on this day and couples express their "true love" on this day. Many of the couples who have fallen in "true love" can be seen tonguing a different partner on the next Valentine's Day. If this was not enough money earning by these Gift galleries they introduced Chocolate day, Hug day, Rose day , Slap day, Kick day, Breakup day etc. etc. Hell now they "celebrate" a Valentine week! Oh the nonsense of it!

I am not against the expression of love but I simply find this day ridiculous at least in the Indian context. Valentine's Day it has an impact of the society which is really not visible. Such days have an impact on the subconscious of people and they think that celebrating such days makes them global citizens which is nonsense. They think it is a part of globalization. Well I never saw the US celebrating Makar Sankranti on any occasion in the name of globalization and also how many malls or galleries celebrate local festivals with such zeal.

But on the other hand Indian people these days are celebrating Halloween and Thanks Giving! For what and why is the question?! What I now see is that Indian festivals like Karwa Chauth and Raksha Bandhan are being considered as a part of "patriarchy and oppression" which have been a part and parcel of India since generations and are harmless. Practically every Indian especially Hindu festival and tradition are targets of a soft and an organized campaign. Be it Jalikattu or Dhanteras you will see some or the other trivial debate on it. Though that is another matter that they are still celebrated with the same zeal.

India has always been a melting pot of world cultures, religions and traditions but we now see a visible decline in the indigenous culture due to this marketing campaign of western festivals and culture which makes people think it is trendy to celebrate them. One has to celebrate Valentine's Day because the event has been marketed in such a way that it looks special. The argument that we invented the Kamasutra is often used in this context. Well the Kamasutra is not about a gang bang but how to lead a blissful marital life.

Love has a very deep meaning in India and most Indians try for a lasting family relations and values which will lead to successful marriage and a stable life, but now relationships are visibly hollow and I do not think there is an ounce of love in them but only attraction. I believe love is never loud but is quiet.The Indian culture might absorb Valentine's day like it has absorbed many other cultures and festivals. Eventually celebrating love is not harmful in itself but forgetting what love stands for and trampling the local culture and traditions as it does not resonate with the definition of globalization is certainly harmful.

We Indians stop everything in the name and culture but we fail to understand what our real Indian culture is all about. The conservativeness and treating women unequally is the effect of British. They were very much conservative and they wanted their women to be just women who take care of household chores and appear in social gatherings as 'Glam Dolls' only but it is not a not part our Culture. It wasn't part of our Culture and of course we Indians are always fascinated by western glamours starting from Soaps to the dresses we wear.

Valentine's day is not hurting our Culture in any manner. If, you question about Valentine's day then you should also question about Father's Day, Mother's Day, Women's day etc., They were not part of our culture as well. When it is with love and lovers I don't know. Why are people getting agitated and post such questions and of course this debate happens for a long time before Valentine's day and not before the other day's I mentioned. If you think that is harming? Why there is increase in Old Age homes? Why people abandon their parents? isn't it against the Indian culture? Why there is increase in rapes or crimes against women? Can't a man respect the core Indian culture of respecting women as Goddesses?

These are after all, found on our temples like Khajuraho, they gotta be part of Indian culture. I think, Yoga was born out of necessity in India, otherwise, how would have those guys maintained such flexibility. Or Are we talking about the one that led to Sati pratha- in which the wife has to jump in the fire and die with her husband. Some records place this practice back to 400 CE, I guess that must be it since its been around for so long. But bravo for practising that for centuries, every culture has tried to make life miserable for women, but throwing them in fire, that's some hardcore stupidity.

Or are we talking about the culture having Parda pratha, or Dahej (dowry) pratha, or the one advocating child marriage. Is that the culture that is being talked about here. Or are we talking about the culture that the local goons practise, who beat women outside pubs. They shout that they are doing that to protect culture, they cant be wrong, can they? Culture isn't unique, culture isn't something written on stone. Culture is a constantly evolving entity that relies on our knowledge, beliefs and moral.

Now ask yourself this, how can a celebration of love be against any culture. Acts like interfering in other peoples lives and even beating "others" people to protect their own culture/religion are done by people who want a purpose in life, this gives them a false sense that their life matters, when actually it doesn’t. The biggest argument against this question is - If celebration of something like valentines day by some people, threatens your beliefs and culture, then your beliefs and culture weren’t that strong to begin with. Cheers!