LAHORE: The provincial capital is all set to welcome the day of lovers as people across the city gear up to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, despite the ban imposed by the Lahore High Court (LHC).
On Monday, citizens especially youth remained busy in preparations for the day with numerous people buying gifts, balloons, chocolates, cakes and many other things for their loved ones. Besides all this, the sale of flowers and balloons were observed around the city. A massive increase in the prices of flowers and balloons were also observed, however, the prices vary from area to area.
In wake of Valentine’s Day, several hotels, shopping malls and markets were decorated with red colored hoardings, heart shaped posters and red lightings. Bakeries started offering different discounts on cakes with specially prepared heart shaped cakes on display. Hotels and restaurants also put up special discounts for couples.
Large numbers of red flowers such as roses were displayed at the flower markets located at Liberty Market, Punjab University flower shops, Barkat Market, Y Block Commercial Market Defense Housing Authority (DHA), Model Town Link Road and many other places. Similarly red heart shaped balloons were also being sold at different places especially main markets in Gulberg, DHA, Johar Town, Model Town, Wapda Town.
Citizens, particularly young people, also expressed resentment and anger over the ban on celebrations, claiming this as the usurpation of their freedom as citizens. They also demanded the government to let them live their lives freely as their reason for celebrating the day was only to spread love, peace and humanity.
Talking to Daily Times, Yasir, 22, a university student said that the ban on Valentine’s Day celebrations was solely for the purpose of snatching away their rights to live freely in the country. He was of the view that judges and the courts should review the decision and let the youth enjoy celebrating a day which only promoted love over hate and violence.
“In our country, spreading hate, anger and violence is easy and appreciable act, but spreading love, peace and humanity is always a crime,” he added. Talking about his preparations, he said that he always spent and celebrated the day with his family and friends, whom he loved most. “I used to arrange parties, cut cake, distributing flowers, chocolates and gifts among my friends as this is the best way of spreading love,” he said.
Mother of two Shaista, 32, observed that she always dedicated this day to her husband and children and loved to spend the day with them. She observed that people who did not celebrate the day or criticised its celebration were not actually aware of the real reason for its celebration. She said that the day was not only dedicated to lovers or those in an intimate relationship but that one could celebrate the day with anyone they loved most.
