Mysore: Love in the air? It was everywhere!

Sri Rama Sene distributes pamphlets against the occasion

It was that day of the year again, when hearts yearned for hearts, unmindful of growing threat to the celebration with many wearing the cap of moral policing.

The city of palaces on Tuesday was witness to the celebration of Valentine’s Day in a peaceful and quiet manner.

Youngsters especially college goers celebrated the occasion to the hilt. From sartorial elegance co plying with dress code for the day to every other ingredients that made the occasion complete, the young denizens didn’t leave any stone unturned to make it a memorable occasion.

If gone by the mouth to mouth dress code, couples in love wore white, while those on the opposite side without any love wore black. While red, yellow and also pink colours carried different meanings, suffice to say western culture is fast catching up.

At Government Maharani’s Science College, the students got a class against the day.

Sanjay who heads Sri Rama Sene Mysore unit was seen stopping the students at the entrance from JLB road side only to hand over to them a pamphlet in Kannada. According to the sena volunteers, as printed in the pamphlet, celebrating Valentine’s Day is akin to endorsing western culture besides fuelling a mafia. Instead of rolling a red carpet, it’s better to say ‘no’ to the celebration in retaining the tradition and culture of the land.

How can one forget the ubiquitous flower sellers near Field Marshal K M Cariappa Circle, Ballal Circle and Valmiki Circle at Paduvarahalli who made a roaring business. A stick of rose usually sold at Rs 10 cost double for the day. At times the price varied, much higher depending on the bulging purse of the young customers.

Saddest part for the day especially for loving hearts was the closure of Karanji lake nature park. The park has become a safe haven for lovers with every passing day, with the increasing influx of youngsters. The park in the ambit of zoo authorities had closed owing to Tuesday being a weekly off. But, the couples in love for whom the park was the perfect place to play cupid had celebrated the day on the eve itself with the authorities recording more visitors (needless to say youngsters formed the chunk) on Monday (February 13), said a source.

Kukkarahalli Lake another proven joint for lovers was not bereft of youths in love. Similarly, youth were the mostly seen, either in hotels, cafeterias, cinema halls or whichever place they felt safe to forget the world and nestle in the arms of each other for a while.

Police had also made elaborate security arrangements deploying police in front of every college, besides patrolling parties on frequent move.