My little Valentine

So Valentine's Day is not really a thing here in South India, and there are some people who'd like to keep it that way. A friend and I were coming home from a visit to the Armenian Church (will post about that later) and were driving down Marina Beach, when police officers waved us off the main road and through the parking area at the beach. There was a protest blocking the main road.

I asked our all-knowing driver what was up, and after reading some of the Tamil signs he told us it was the BJP out protesting what he called "Lover's Day." The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is the Hindu nationalist political party and is extremely socially conservative. But seriously, Valentine's Day?! Then Ashok pointed to a crowd gathered at the Gandhi statue on the other side of the parking area. It was a counter-protest in support of Lover's Day! Who knew Valentine's Day was so controversial?

Just to put in my two cents I bought chocolates and gave them to Joseph and Ashok to take home to their wives :)

Despite being majority Brahmin, Samuel's preschool celebrated Valentine's Day with a cute party. They had it set up in stations, so we rotated through art, snack and games before heading home.



Making a fingerpainted card.

Chef Samuel (he wouldn't wear his hat) making a sandwich. He loved spreading the butter and probably would have kept going for hours if I hadn't dragged him on to the next station.

Me and my Valentine.