Young hearts ignite on Valentine's Day

Conservative groups observe February 14 as 'Haya Day'

RAWALPINDI:

Youngsters and individuals celebrated Valentine's Day with great passion on Friday. Gift centres and gift shops were bustling with women, students, and young people buying fresh red and artificial flowers and various gifts.

Men and women, including youngsters, bought their desired gifts, even at high prices. Bani Chowk, Wajah Bazaar, and Dangi Khoi Chowk markets received a good number of customers who purchased fresh red roses and flower petals to celebrate the dedicated day.

On the other hand, religious and conservative groups observed February 14 as "Haya Day."

At gift shops, women, men, and young people were seen packing red-coloured Valentine's Day gifts in beautifully designed packages, which allowed shopkeepers and gift centres to earn significant profits. Temporary stalls selling Valentine's Day gifts were set up throughout the city's major and minor markets.

Balloon sellers also set up colourful red balloons, filling them with gas to decorate various locations.

The sales of heart-shaped red gas-filled balloons reached a record high, with many youngsters buying them and releasing them into the air.

To prevent any potential mischief related to Valentine's Day, the police and local administration implemented strict security measures in all recreational parks. Security guards patrolled every corner of the parks.

Families also purchased fresh and artificial red flowers as Valentine's gifts for their family members, including mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, and sons. Throughout the day, the purchase of Valentine's Day gifts peaked.

Shab-e-Barat observed

Meanwhile, in observation of Shab-e-Barat, many citizens engaged in night vigils on Thursday and Friday nights, offering nawafils, performing special prayers, and earnestly asking for forgiveness, mercy, prosperity, and health from Allah.

In celebration of Shab-e-Barat, a large number of people observed fasts on Friday. Due to the fasts, large stalls for Iftar items were set up across the city, where people bought samosa, pakora, phinni, jalebi, kachori, dates, chaat, dahi bhallay, fruit chaat, and other items in high demand.

Due to the fasts, the attendance at Friday prayers was also notably high. Imams and scholars, during the Friday sermons, emphasised the virtues, importance, and benefits of Shab-e-Barat and fasting, concluding with special prayers for Pakistan's prosperity, safety, unity, and development.