MUMBAI: Red hearts make a common theme between wedding albums and Valentine's Day, and given that an auspicious marriage mahurat occurs on February 14 this year, several young couples are planning to club the occasion by getting married on Monday.
Even local politicians have been hit by Cupid's arrow. Andheri corporator Mohsin Haider organized a three-day mass wedding of Muslim couples in the run-up to Valentine's Day while the new chief of the BJP Yuva Morcha, Ameet Satam, has chosen this day to tie the knot.
"My fiance Shweta and I were debating three 'mahurats' (auspicious timings) this month but we finally chose February 14 because our anniversary would become memorable each year," says Satam. Rib him about the opposition that some radical elements have displayed towards the festival of love and the politician in him comes to the rescue.
"Well, the BJP has never taken a stand against Valentine's Day. How can we oppose something that symbolizes love? All we ask is that 'Westernisation' should not hijack our culture and that people should not become too demonstrative about their private feelings in public."
Local members of the BJP alliance partner, the Shiv Sena, will also attend the February 14 ceremony and bless the union. "After all, they will come to attend my wedding not celebrate Valentine's Day," says Satam.
At the other end of the spectrum, corporator Mohsin Haider organized a three-day mass wedding of 30 couples at Andheri's Fidai Baug. Most of them were traditional Muslims who were marrying according to the wishes of the family. Twenty-one-year old Shaikh Ashfaq, an ice merchant from Jalgaon, spoke to TOI minutes after his wedding on Saturday night: "Praise be to Allah, I have never been happier. I have never celebrated Valentine's Day before, but this year I have occasion to do so."
In neighbouring Kandivli, photographer Chetan Shah is packing his bags for a special assignment. Shah will travel to Ahmedabad on Sunday along with the groom's party to shoot the Valentine's Day wedding of Rahul Ghorecha.
"I normally frame close-ups with red hearts and that symbol fits doubly well this day," he laughs.While Ghorecha, a 29-year-old interior designer based in Dahisar was the centre of attention at Saturday's pre-wedding rituals, his brother Kamlesh stepped aside to say that the family had unanimously settled on February 14.
"My father doesn't care much for Valentine's Day but he did not object because the mahurat is aptly suited to the couple's horoscopes," Kamlesh said.
Even local politicians have been hit by Cupid's arrow. Andheri corporator Mohsin Haider organized a three-day mass wedding of Muslim couples in the run-up to Valentine's Day while the new chief of the BJP Yuva Morcha, Ameet Satam, has chosen this day to tie the knot.
"My fiance Shweta and I were debating three 'mahurats' (auspicious timings) this month but we finally chose February 14 because our anniversary would become memorable each year," says Satam. Rib him about the opposition that some radical elements have displayed towards the festival of love and the politician in him comes to the rescue.
"Well, the BJP has never taken a stand against Valentine's Day. How can we oppose something that symbolizes love? All we ask is that 'Westernisation' should not hijack our culture and that people should not become too demonstrative about their private feelings in public."
Local members of the BJP alliance partner, the Shiv Sena, will also attend the February 14 ceremony and bless the union. "After all, they will come to attend my wedding not celebrate Valentine's Day," says Satam.
At the other end of the spectrum, corporator Mohsin Haider organized a three-day mass wedding of 30 couples at Andheri's Fidai Baug. Most of them were traditional Muslims who were marrying according to the wishes of the family. Twenty-one-year old Shaikh Ashfaq, an ice merchant from Jalgaon, spoke to TOI minutes after his wedding on Saturday night: "Praise be to Allah, I have never been happier. I have never celebrated Valentine's Day before, but this year I have occasion to do so."
In neighbouring Kandivli, photographer Chetan Shah is packing his bags for a special assignment. Shah will travel to Ahmedabad on Sunday along with the groom's party to shoot the Valentine's Day wedding of Rahul Ghorecha.
"I normally frame close-ups with red hearts and that symbol fits doubly well this day," he laughs.While Ghorecha, a 29-year-old interior designer based in Dahisar was the centre of attention at Saturday's pre-wedding rituals, his brother Kamlesh stepped aside to say that the family had unanimously settled on February 14.
"My father doesn't care much for Valentine's Day but he did not object because the mahurat is aptly suited to the couple's horoscopes," Kamlesh said.
