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Wording, capitalization.

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The celebration of '''Valentine's Day in India''' began to become popular following the [[economic liberalisation in India|economic liberalisation]]. There have been protests against the celebrations by groups who consider it a [[Westernization|Western influence]].<ref name=Fascination>{{cite news|title=India's fascination with Valentine's Day|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1820440.stm|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=14 February 2002}}</ref> Almost every year, law and order problems occur on 14 February in many cities in India due to protests.<ref name=Mobocracy>{{cite news|title=Mobocracy and anti Valentine Day protest|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/mobocracy-and-anti-valentine-day-protest/article4465418.ece|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=1 March 2013}}</ref>

==Overview==
In the Medieval era, the acceptance of public affection died off. Lovers from different castes have been prosecuted and even sometimes there have been [[honor killing]]s.<ref name=Fascination/> Public display of affection such holding hands or kissing is considered unacceptable today in India.<ref name=WinsHearts>{{cite news|title=Valentine's Day wins Indian hearts|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6358531.stm|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=14 February 2007}}</ref>

Following the economic liberalisation in the early 1990s, a new middle class emerged who could afford access to foreign TV channels and card shops. [[Valentine's Day]] became popular among this middle class, but not much in the lower economics classes.<ref name=Fascination/> Many young and working Indians live away from their families. This gives, especially women, a choice in their relationships. The interest in [[dating site]]s has also increased.<ref name=WinsHearts/> Commercial establishments have attempted to cash in on this new sub-culture.<ref name=Mobocracy/><ref name=WinsHearts/><ref name=ToHeart>{{cite news|title=India takes Valentine's Day to heart|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/642644.stm|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=14 February 2000}}</ref>

Unrequited love is sometimes met with harassment, which is known by the [[euphemism]] "[[eve-teasing]]"; and occasionally it becomes more violent. There have also been [[acid attack]]s.<ref name=Fascination/>

==Criticism and protests==
Various political parties have condemned Valentine's Day as an unwelcome influence of [[Western culture]] on India. Some also consider this a scam by corporations for their economic gain.<ref name=Mobocracy/>

[[Shiv Sena]] leader [[Uddhav Thackeray]] has called it an attack of the west on [[Indian culture]] and that it is attracting youth for commercial gain. Shiv Sena leader [[Bal Thackeray]] has said that people not wanting violence on the day should not celebrate it.<ref name=Anger>{{cite news|title=Hindu and Muslim anger at Valentine's|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/2749667.stm|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=11 February 2003}}</ref> He has also called the festival shameless and contrary to Indian culture.<ref name=ToughLove/> In [[Maharashtra]], the Shiv Sena often threatens commercial establishments to stop selling goods that celebrate Valentine's Day.<ref name="DebateMoral">{{cite news|author=Amrita Shah| date=13 Feb 2003 |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/18311/ |title=Debate, or the moral police |work=[[The Indian Express]]|accessdate=7 December 2014}}</ref> The Mumbai city unit chief Nana Wadekar of Shiv Sena has stated that Valentine's Day encourages obscene and vulgar acts.<ref name=CityCops>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/city-cops-turn-moral-police-ahead-of-vday/574377/0 |title=City cops turn moral police ahead of V-Day |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=2 February 2010 |accessdate=7 December 2014}}</ref>

[[Sri Ram Sena]] leader [[Pramod Muthalik]] has said that if his activists catch couples in public on Valentine's Day, they would be [[Forced marriage|forcibly married]]. If the couples resist, then the girl with will [[Forced adoption|be forced]] to tied [[Raksha Bandhan|rakhi]] to the boy, a ritual which would make them siblings.<ref name=Muthalik/>

Other political parties and religious groups who have been known to protest Valentine's Day are, [[Vishwa Hindu Parishad]],<ref name=Rotten/> [[Bajrang Dal]],<ref name=Rotten/> [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]],<ref name=ABVP>{{cite news|title=ABVP prevents Valentine’s Day celebrations|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/abvp-prevents-valentines-day-celebrations/article710483.ece|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=15 February 2010}}</ref> [[Sri Ram Sena]],<ref name=Muthalik>{{cite news|title=We’ll not spare dating couples on Valentine’s Day: Muthalik|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/well-not-spare-dating-couples-on-valentines-day-muthalik/article348725.ece|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=6 February 2009}}</ref> [[Students Islamic Organisation of India]],<ref name=SIO>{{cite news|title=Muslims told to stay away from Valentine's Day|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/muslims-told-to-stay-away-from-valentines-day/article2890093.ece|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=14 February 2012}}</ref> [[Hindu Munnani]],<ref name=LoveHate/> [[Hindu Makkal Katchi]],<ref name=ProtestsAgainst>{{cite news|title=Protests against Valentine’s Day celebrations|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/protests-against-valentines-day-celebrations/article4417173.ece|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=15 February 2013}}</ref> etc.

Activists have been known to raid card shops and burn Valentine's Day cards and flowers.<ref name=Anger/><ref name=AttackersHeld/> Members of [[Vishwa Hindu Parishad]] and [[Bajrang Dal]] have also been known to throw rotten tomatoes at couples.<ref name=Rotten>{{cite news|title=Valentine’s Day: Bajrang Dal, VHP activists throw rotten tomatoes on couples|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/valentines-day-bajrang-dal-vhp-activists-throw-rotten-tomatoes-on-couples/article5689272.ece|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=14 February 2014}}</ref> There also have been reports of people attacking restaurants.<ref name=ToughLove>{{cite news|title=Tough love for Indian Valentines|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1169077.stm|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=14 February 2001}}</ref><ref name=AttackersHeld/> Bajrang Dal has been known to put up billboards warning couples to not hold hands. [[Shiv Sena]] has warned that people expressing love in public will be photographed and the photographs will be sent to their families.<ref name=WinsHearts/> Couples roaming in public parks are sometimes caught by vigilantes and their hair is cut off and their faces are painted black to humiliate them.<ref name=ToughLove/><ref name=AttackersHeld>{{cite news|title=Valentine attackers held in India|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7890457.stm|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=14 February 2009}}</ref> Some groups conduct marriages of different animals like goat and dog, or dog and horse, to symbolise that the love displayed on this day is fake.<ref name=LoveHate/><ref name=ProtestsAgainst/>

Between February 3 and 15, 2010, [[Pune Police|Pune police]] proscribed "gathering in groups and disturbing peace, playing drums or any other music systems loudly, showing of affection in ways that tantamount to obscenity, throwing colours under influence of alcohol, disturbing peace in public places and obstructing traffic, doing vulgar acts in schools, colleges and encouraging anti-social activities" to be under [[Unlawful assembly|Section 144]] of the [[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973|CrPC]] (unlawful assembly) in all public and private places under the jurisdiction of the Pune police commissioner. They declared that those found violating the order would be punished under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC.<ref name=CityCops/>

In February 2015, Chandra Prakash Kaushik of [[Hindu Mahasabha]] said that anyone found celebrating in public places, like malls and restaurants, in the week around Valentine's Day will be forcibly married. If one of them is non-Hindu, he/she will [[Forced conversion#Hinduism|be converted to Hinduism]] before marriage. They also said that a social media team will be monitoring Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter, anyone showing love online will also be married off.<ref name=GetMarried>{{cite news|title=Posted ‘I love you’ on Facebook? Get married!|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/Posted-I-love-you-on-Facebook-Get-married/articleshow/46124798.cms|accessdate=6 February 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=4 February 2015}}</ref>

===Parents Worship Day===
In 2012, self-proclaimed religious leader, [[Asaram Bapu|Asaram]], who is currently serving a life imprisonment for raping a minor girl, said that 14 February should be observed as "Parents Worship Day". He said instead of protesting against Valentine's Day and causing law and order problems, youth should be given an alternative.<ref name=Asaram>{{cite news|title=Worship parents on Valentine's Day, says Asaram Bapu|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/worship-parents-on-valentines-day-asaram-bapu/1/171080.html|work=[[India Today]]|date=29 January 2012}}</ref>

In 2015, the state of [[Chhattisgarh]] officially declared 14 February every year to be Parents' Day or Matru-Pitru Divas. It had started observing it in 2008 on the advice of Asaram. In 2013 and 2014, separate circulars were issued with instructions. On this day, parents are invited to school and students pray to them.<ref name=ParentsChhattisgarh>{{cite news|title=Valentine’s Day to be Parents’ Day in Chhattisgarh|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/feb-14-is-parents-day-in-chhattisgarh/article6869015.ece|accessdate=14 February 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 February 2015}}</ref>

==Support and counter protests==
In January 2009, [[2009 Mangalore pub attack|a pub was attacked]] in Mangalore by members of a group called [[Sri Ram Sena]]. Following which, the group's leader [[Pramod Muthalik]] announced that his organisation would also protest Valentine's Day. A group called "Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women" was formed on [[Facebook]] and it asked people to mail pink underwear to Muthalik. The protest was named [[Pink Chaddi Campaign]].<ref name=Underwear>{{cite news|title=Underwear protest at India attack|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7880377.stm|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=10 February 2009}}</ref> About, 34,000 people participated.<ref name=Chaddi>{{cite news|title='Pink chaddi' campaign a hit, draws over 34,000 members|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pink-chaddi-campaign-a-hit-draws-over-34000-members/articleshow/4126529.cms|accessdate=28 January 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=14 February 2009}}</ref>

In [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam]], [[Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam]] and [[Democratic Youth Federation of India]] support the festival.<ref name=LoveHate>{{cite news|title=V-Day Sees Love and Hate in State|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/V-Day-Sees-Love-and-Hate-in-State/2014/02/15/article2057655.ece|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=15 February 2015}}</ref><ref name=Demonstration>{{cite news|title=Demonstrations against Valentine’s Day|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/demonstrations-against-valentines-day/article4417057.ece|accessdate=27 January 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=15 February 2013}}</ref> On this day, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam has performed [[inter caste marriage]]s and Democratic Youth Federation of India has felicitated those who have entered an inter-caste marriage.<ref name=Demonstration/>

On 14 February 2015, in response to Hindu Mahasabha's announcement to marry off couples found celebrating, several students of [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|Jawaharlal Nehru University]] and [[Delhi University]] protested on the Mandir Marg, New Delhi, near the Hindu Mahasabha office. Many were dressed in wedding dresses and they were accompanied by a wedding band. About 220 students were arrested by the police when they began marching towards the Hindu Mahasabha office, as they had not taken permission for the protest.<ref name=200Detained>{{cite news|title=More than 200 Delhi college students detained for protesting outside Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/more-than-200-delhi-college-students-detained-for-protesting-outside-akhil-bharatiya-hindu-mahasabha/|accessdate=14 February 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=14 February 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Moral police]]
* [[Love Jihad]]
*[[Valentine's Day in Pakistan]]

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

[[Category:Conservatism in India]]
[[Category:Controversies in India]]
[[Category:Valentine's Day]]

Valentine's Day in India - Revision history

imported>Johnny Rose 11: Wording, capitalization.