BOMBAY, INDIA, February 12, 2001: The Shiv Sena organization in India has ordered its members to disrupt any Valentine’s Day celebrations in the capital of Bombay by targeting beach and garden parties. The leader of the party, Mr. Bal Thackeray, condemns the festival. He called it shameless and contrary to Indian culture. Shops in Uttar Pradesh selling Valentine’s Day cards have been attacked. This same state also recently banned beauty pageants. Quoting their intentions Mr. Thackery speaks, “We should focus on good work, good thoughts, love and harmony in our society and not let such Western culture spoil us.” Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14, the day according to Christian mythology that one priest named Valentine was martyred in Rome in 270 ce. However, as with many Christian festivals, it is actually drawn from the pagan Roman festival in honor of Juno, Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses, which was celebrated on February 14. On this day it was the custom of the Romans to write the names of girls on paper and put them in a jar, then each young man would draw a girl’s name from the jar with whom he would celbrate the Feast of Lupercalia on February 15. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.
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