This one is for Muthalik, the Ram Sene leader who has advised Christians to do their Valentine's Day thing either at home or in their churches, or else. Further threatening that any boy or girl found exchanging affection in public on Valentine's Day will be forcibly hauled off to a Hindu priest who will "marry" them.
The Gujarati Story of Valentine's Day In spite of what you have been told by everyone, the truth is that Valentine's Day originated hundreds of years ago, in India, and to top it all, in Gujarat. It is a well-known fact that Gujarati men, specially the Patels, continually mistreat and disrespect their wives (Patelianis). One fine day, which happened to be 14th day of February, one brave Pateliani, having had enough "torture" by her husband, finally chose to rebel by beating him up with a Velan (rolling pin). Yes...the same Velan, which she used daily, to make chapattis for him...only this time, instead of the dough, it was the husband who was flattened. This was a momentous occasion for all Gujarati women and a revolt soon spread, like wild fire, with thousands of housewives beating up their husbands with the Velan. There was an outburst of moaning "chapatti-ed" husbands all over Anand and Amdavad. The Patel men-folk quickly learnt their lesson and started to behave more respectfully with their Patelianis. Thereafter, on 14 February, every year, the womenfolk of Gujarat would beat up their husbands, to commemorate that eventful day. The wives having the satisfaction of beating up their husbands with the Velan and the men having the supreme joy of submitting to the will of the women they loved. Soon the men realized that in order to avoid the ordeal they needed to present gifts to their wives...they brought flowers and sweetmeats. Hence, the tradition began. As Gujarat fell under the influence of Western culture, that day was called 'Velan Time' day. The ritual soon spread to Britain and many other Western countries, specifically, the catchwords 'Velan time!' Of course in their foreign tongues, it was first anglicized to 'Velantime' and then to 'Valentine'. Thereafter, 14th of February, came to be known as Valentine's Day! -- Roland Francis http://roland-torontogoan.blogspot.com +1 (416) 453.3371
