Happy Valentine's Day in India

Valentine’s Day is popular around the world and is celebrated in many places, including India. It celebrates love mainly between couples and friends.

Is Valentine's Day a Public Holiday?

Valentine's Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.

Flowers and hearts are all part of the Valentine's Day theme.

©iStockphoto.com/Kais Tolmats

What Do People Do?

India is well known as a culture filled with ancient traditions. The Hindu culture contradicts many of the western world’s ideals. Valentine’s Day celebrations are known to clash with India’s conservative religious background. It has only been in the most recent years that Valentine’s Day has become widely recognized in India.

Just like most people in the world, many men and women of India, particularly young couples, celebrate Valentine’s Day in a big way. They dress in fine clothing and show their loved one how they feel about them. Hotels and restaurants are fully booked to accommodate couples who are expressing and celebrating their love for each other. Post offices are filled with flower deliveries of flowers, packages and romantic letters.

Public Life

Valentine’s Day is neither a public nor a private holiday. All offices, schools, colleges, government and private institutions remain open on this day. But those who wish to enjoy the day take a personal holiday to celebrate with their partner. Public transport also operates in full swing on the day. However, there is heavy traffic congestion in many places as many couples go out to enjoy the day.

Background

Valentine’s Day is a popular global observance that is becoming increasingly popular in India over the years. Many people, particularly young people, in India started celebrating and enjoying the day in recent times.

Symbols

Popular Valentine’s Day symbols include flowers, cupid, arrows, love birds, the color red and hearts. Hearts symbolize of love, but it is also a symbol of life. Giving one’s heart to another person, so to speak, is the ultimate expression of love.

Flowers, roses especially, have long been associated with love. They stand for love, friendship and romance. The color red is associated with love, passion and romance. Love birds are a favorite symbol of Valentine’s Day because it has been said that they search for their mates on Valentine’s Day. Cupid, the god of love in mythology, is responsible for shooting arrows to make people fall in love with each other.

About Valentine's Day in other countries

Read more about Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day Observances

Holiday currently only shown for years 2015–2021.

Year	Weekday	Date	Name	Holiday Type
2015	Sat	14 Feb	Valentine's Day	Observance
2016	Sun	14 Feb	Valentine's Day	Observance
2017	Tue	14 Feb	Valentine's Day	Observance
2018	Wed	14 Feb	Valentine's Day	Observance
2019	Thu	14 Feb	Valentine's Day	Observance
2020	Fri	14 Feb	Valentine's Day	Observance
2021	Sun	14 Feb	Valentine's Day	Observance

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