Young and Old Sweethearts All Set in the Mood on Valentine’s Day in Kudla
Mangaluru: Roses Are Red My Love…! Young and old sweethearts are all set in the mood All Set In The Mood on Valentine’s Day in Kudla. It’s once again that time of the year, where controversies involving young lovers and activists of certain political saffron parties are nothing new, but the feeling of ill-will is usually at its peak on February 14, Valentine’s Day. St Valentine merely wanted to spread the message of love, but lately, this day has become one of possible conflict in India, as well as Mangaluru. As lovers eagerly await to greet their Valentines on February 14, there’s some not-so-pleasing news for them. Roses, one of the essential gifts on Valentine’s Day, are little higher than last year, and also prices of Teddy Bears and other Valentine’s Day tidbits are quite outrageous. But no matter what, lovers who really want to celebrate this day, have gone ahead and are buying the stuff, forgetting the price matter.
If Sri Rama Sena Supremo Pramod Muthalik is dead against observing Valentine’s Day, and so also other Saffron activists, but that hasn’t stopped those who believe in V-Day, and are all geared up to mark this Day, buying roses, gifts, chocolates, cards etc, except “Pink Chaddies?” for their dear ones. And for that matter, if you look at the flowers shop and gifts shops in Mangaluru, they are all making brisk business from flower arrangements, teddy bears, greeting cards, novelties, gift items, chocolates/cupcakes etc etc. As lovers listen to heart’s whisper and say those three little words with roses and gifts, V-Day spells megabucks for bizland. As big-time parties are planned at luxury hotels, pubs and social clubs in other big cities, but locally owners of hotels, pubs and clubs have been quite reluctant in hosting any V-Day events, with a little fear of the saffron groups creating trouble. But it is learnt that couple of pubs and eatery places have V-Day specials for today
Speaking to Suraj and Susan, students of KMC who had come to but their rose arrangement at Iris flower shop-Karangalpady, I asked them how they feel about Valentine’s Day celebrations in Mangaluru, they said, ”We wish we were in Mumbai our hometown, where V-Day celebrations are simply fun and frolic. Here we have been traumatized by saffron groups and not many of our friends want to take a chance to get hurt while having good times. Telling us what to do and what not to do by the members of these outfits is just bul@#@#?. We are planning on having a good time, so also a bunch of our revellers at our apartment. Happy Valentine’s Day to all who believe in it”.
Like the prices of ‘Kumbalakai’ goes up during ‘Ayudha Puja’- the prices of roses go up during V-Day. Also that this year millions of roses have been exported to Western countries, there has been a shortage of roses here, and that’s the reason they have jacked up the prices. A bunch of 8-10 roses will cost around Rs 200-300, and each rose around Rs 25-30. If you had purchased a red rose yesterday for Rs 10-15, today you will be paying Rs 25-30 for the same kind of red rose. Flower arrangements range from Rs 500- Rs 2500- and I was surprised to note that a couple of these flower shops have heavy booking for these rose laden arrangements. And there’s one huge heart-shaped design sitting in front of Iris Flower Shop-Karangalpady costing around “Rs 20,000?” as per the staff there. Guess which man will buy it?- he has to be Truly, Deeply and Madly in love with his sweetheart. I bet some psycho will buy it by tonight! Also, a staff said last night a man bought heart-shaped red roses laden arrangement for Rs 30,000?
“Lovebirds do not mind to pay around two times usual price of flowers,” giggled another florist at a popular florist shop in town. However, he said many avoid purchasing flowers due to the anti-valentine’s squad and Moral-police personnel. The moral police brigade on that day is keeping an eye and youngsters hesitate to purchase flowers to avoid problems. Last year there had been protests by the saffron group in the city, claiming V-Day as a Western culture”. Oh well, then how about these Saffron activists walking around attired in Western jeans and Tommy Hilfiger or Levis polo or T-shirts?
Going around the city I saw quite a few young and old people shopping for V-Day cards, roses and other V-Day novelties. But the shopping spree and craze for V-Day items have died down lately, with the present generation using SMSs, email and e-Cards to convey their V-Day greetings. According to Ullas Rasquinha- owner of Gerosa Company said, that he had good sales of cards and other Valentine novelties. Crave Desserts and Bakes-Mangaluru also have unique valentine goodies-like cakes, desserts and cupcakes- and they have been selling like hot cakes. Diesel Cafe-Balmatta has special menu for Valentine’s Day week comprising of- Shape of the heart soup; Heartbeat salad; Love Bites and TLC as starters; Love Pyramid, Made for Each Other in the main course; Sweet Valentine as dessert; and Havana Girl, French Kiss, and Bubble Bouquet as beverages. Retox Lounge is all decorated with red balloons, and gearing up for Valentine’s Day bash tonight- and for that matter, today is Ladies Night, where chicks get free ???.
Manoj Rai, an engineering student had bought a mega-size V-Day card at a gift shop, has also planned to take his sweetheart for a “candle-light” dinner at a cozy and elegant restaurant. Valerian, an IT employee also had bought a mega-size V-Day card-he and his would-be life partner had fallen in love one year ago while working together at the same IT firm, and he has plans to marry his fiancee next year. He had the V-Day card wrapped in a red foil paper, to be presented to her when she comes down to Mangaluru this weekend since she is employed in Bengaluru. He has plans to take her to the beach and spend a cozy and lovely evening at a pub or nice restaurant.
To sum it all, Valentine’s Day is traditionally a way to celebrate the romance in your life, but it’s also a good way to show friends how much you value them. There are as many ways to do this as there are friendships, and no way is right or wrong. With some friends, you might give a card to say “Happy Valentine’s Day,” while with others you might go all out with a big party. There are different ways to celebrate V-Day- pick one and celebrate. Happy Valentine’s Day!
I end this column with the modern cliché Valentine’s Day poem found in the collection of English nursery rhymes Gammer Gurton’s Garland (1784):
The rose is red, the violet’s blue,
The honey’s sweet, and so are you.
Thou art my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I drew,
And Fortune said it should be you.
Happy VALENTINE’S DAY FROM TEAM MANGALOREAN