**OT**
One thing I love about reading foreign newspapers is that they do not assume the reader knows of the origin of a certain day such as Valentine's Day:
Youngsters go for gifts-and hearts
By Narayan Upadhyay
Kathmandu, Feb 13: A young girl was flipping over dozens of cards at the Archi’s shop at Durbar Marg. She was among the many youngsters who thronged the gift card shops choosing the best card for their Valentine.
Educated and bred in style close to Western way of living, the urbane adolescents are jostling towards the gift shops, greeting card shops, restaurants, cafes and discos of the Kathmandu Valley on the eve of the Valentine’s Day.
The Valentine’s day seems to have taken the youngsters by storm. Celebrated as the day to exchange their hearts, the Valentine Day has become recent phenomenon for the love-hit Kathmandu’s youngsters.
Upasana Upadhyay, a bachelor student of Padma Kanya Campus says that she has been celebrating the day for the past few years but has not got a boy friend yet.
"I have been marking the day for the past 2-3 years and has been sending the Valentine cards and message to the friends like but has not have a true boy friend as yet," said the love-lorn lass from the Kathmandu’s famous girls’ campus.
But there are some persons who have not made any move to express their heart’s desire. Rather, they want to wait and see whether some love-stricken girl would make some proposal to him on the eve of the very day.
Mohan Bhusal, the famous Nepali pop singer is one of them. Said the patient Bhusal:" I am waiting a Valentine greeting from the one girl I like the most and if she sends me the much awaited greeting, I would accept her as my future girlfriend."
The Australia returned Diwakar Man Ranjitkar, 28, rued how he missed the day he celebrated in Australia with foreign girls. "In Australia, I used to celebrate the day with foreign girlfriends, but I am finding it difficult here in Nepal because I do not have a girlfriend," said the Ranjitakar, who is yet to tie the nuptial knot.
But not all youngsters are bowled over by the Saint’s gift to the lovers almost 17 century ago.
Singer Bimala Rai wants to stick to the Nepalese tradition and says that her actual day of celebration is not February 14 but Janaury 26, the day she got married. " My Valentine Day is January 26 when I got married."
However, the Director of Bir Hospital Dr. Ram Prasad Shrestha, who happened to be in Europe for his MBBS course during the early 60s, says that the new fad has hit especially the urbanites.
" During my stay in Europe in 60s I saw many Europeans celebrating the day which is fairly new to the Nepalese youngsters. The new phenomenon is, our youngsters want to move with time irrespective of culture and tradition," Shrestha said.
To attract the youngsters on the eve of the lovers’ most celebrated day, discos, restaurants, bars, card and gift shops are offering many discounts, special attractions and prizes.
However, all this discounts and special offering failed to attract singer Pabitra Subba. She said: "I would like to spend the day with my family members at my home."
Traditionally, the day is commemorated in the memory of St. Valentine, third century bishop who attained the martyrdom for the sake of lovers.
The story goes like this: St. Valentine went against the draconian edict passed by Emperor Caludius II against the marriage. The Emperor thought that marriage obstructed men in becoming good soldiers as married men were more attached to the family. The Emperor had, thus, banned marriage to ensure quality soldiers to defend his empire.
St. Valentine came to know the tribulation of young hearts. He not only helped them to meet in secret but also joined them to conduct the rituals of marriage. The Emperor knew about this and tried to persuade St. Valentine not help youngster marriage.
In his attempt to save the young priest from certain execution under the charges of treason, the Emperor tried him to convert to Roman Gods, which the priest refused to do.
St. Valentine was bold enough to "refuse the Emperor’s proposal and recognize the Roman Gods and attempted to convert the Emperor. As a result, Valentine- " the friend of lovers" had to suffer execution on February 14, 270.
Still youngsters all over the world fondly remember the priest who had done so much for the young hearts seeking love.
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