From National PostNEW DELHI -- The small Hallmark shop in popular Lajpat Nagar market was crammed this week with Valentine's Day paraphernalia and young Indians showing it some love.
They pored over sentimental red and pink cards, carefully considered whether to purchase the big teddy bear or the really big teddy bear, and pushed their way to the cash
Valentine's Day is more popular here than ever, the shop owner said.
Valentine's Day is more popular here than ever, the shop owner said.
Yet despite this display -- or perhaps because of it -- February 14 has been cast as a forbidden holiday in this quickly modernizing country by fundamentalist groups that call it "un-Indian," and threaten violence, or even enforced marriage, to those who dare celebrate it in public.
A right-wing Hindu group, Sri Ram Sene, was reportedly organizing to marry off couples seen dating on February 14.
The fringe group's earlier threats of violence against anyone displaying public affection were muted late this week by leader Pramod Muthalik, who promised only peaceful protests in various cities. An Indian news outlet reported last night that police had detained him and about 100 members to prevent them "from creating any trouble."
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