Preparations for Valentine’s Day in full swing
Myra Imran
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Islamabad
The prediction of romantic cloudy weather to continue on February 14 has indeed proved to be an exciting news for couples planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day to its fullest.
The capital markets have started turning red as shopkeepers are finalising their preparations for the big sale on the Valentine’s Day. Flower shops are packed with red roses whereas balloons, chocolates, jewellery and accessories, all heart shaped, have become a basic item in almost every shop.
“The sale has already started, but it will be on its peak on February 14,” said Abdullah, a salesman in one of the most famous gift shop in Islamabad. Talking about Valentine’s Day shopping, he said that on average, every customer spends Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 on gifts these days. “For some customers it goes as up as Rs50,000. It differs from customer to customer,” he added.
Abdullah said that people of all age groups buy Valentines Day specific items. “It is not restricted to teenagers or any specific gender only. As far as I have observed, grown up men spend more as compared to teenagers,” he said sharing his experience of past four years.
The shop was full of all kinds of hearts. Big heart, small heart, hearts held by teddy, heart pencils, frames cushions, bags, gift bags — you name it is their in the shelf. The biggest heart was available for around Rs1,495 whereas the smallest one was for Rs325. There were all kinds of chocolates available in the shop.
“The heart shaped items are sold as hotcakes during these days,” said Abid Malik, managing a stall of Valentine’s Day gifts outside a bookshop. He said that last year, they had to order for these items thrice in two days on February 13 and 14. “We buy things from wholesale markets in Lahore,” he added.
He said that everything red is the best sell these days. Sharing another interesting observation, he said that their shop sells more cards on Valentine’s Day as compared to Eid. Pointing towards piles of red poetry books on one side of the stall, he said that these books are published especially for Valentine’s Day.
“It is all romantic Urdu poetry written by Noshi Gilani, Wasi Shah, Saeed Wasiq and Sharmeen,” he mentioned adding these books along with a red heart balloon is a very popular combination on this occasion. He said that even children buy gifts on these days.
Flower shops are also preparing for a big sale on the Valentine’s Day. “We expect good business as two big occasions when the sale of flowers is at its best are occurring in this month,” said Muhammad Anwar, salesperson of a flower shop in F6 Flower Market. He said that the second big occasion is Rabi-ul-Awwal 12 that will fall on February 16.
Anwar said that last year, his biggest sale was bouquet of imported rose buds for Rs30,000. He said that one shops sells an average of Rs50,000 to Rs60,000 on Valentine’s Day. “An imported rose that is available for Rs50 in wholesale market on routine days becomes of Rs70. When it comes to flower shop, its price goes further up and reaches Rs100 to Rs150 on Valentine’s Day.” The restaurants and coffee shops are also trying innovative ways to match the theme of love. Their target is to provide as much romantic environment as possible for couples.
“Agree to it or not, the Valentine’s Day has become a social reality,” said one young boy looking for appropriate card for his loved one at a bookstall. “That’s the only was when we feel legally allowed to express our love,” said the young chap.
Preparations for Valentine
But in my area in my Religion it is called BEHAYAYEE , BESHARMI , And BeGairati .
