[Reader-list] Gujarati origins of Valentine's Day

[M Javed]

In spite of what you have been told by everyone,
the truth is that Valentine's Day originated hundreds of years
ago, in India, and to top it all, in Gujarat !!

It is a well known fact that Gujarati men, specially the Patels,
continually mistreat and disrespect their wives (Patelianis). One fine
day, it happened to be the 14th day of February, one brave Pateliani,
having had enough "torture" by her husband, finally chose to rebel
by beating him up with a Velan (rolling pin), also called belan.

Yes....the same Velan which she used daily, to make chapattis for
him....only this time, instead of the dough, it was the husband who was
flattened.

This was a momentous occasion for all Gujarati women and a revolt soon
spread, like wild fire, with thousands of housewives beating up their
husbands with the Velan.

There was an outburst of moaning "chapatti-ed" husbands all over
Anand and Amdavad. The Patel men-folk quickly learnt their lesson and
started to
behave more respectfully with their Patelianis.

Thereafter, on 14th February, every year, the womenfolk of Gujarat would
beat up their husbands, to commemorate that eventful day. The wives having
the satisfaction of beating up their husbands with the Velan and the men
having the supreme joy of submitting to the will of the women they loved.
Soon the Gujju men realised that in order to avoid this ordeal they need
to present gifts to their wives....they brought flowers and sweetmeats.
Hence the tradition began.

As Gujarat fell under the influence of Western culture, that day was
called 'Velan time' day.

The ritual soon spread to Britain and many other Western countries,
specifically, the catch words 'Velan time!'. Of course in their
foreign tongues, it was first anglicized to 'Velantime' and then to
'Valentine'. And thereafter, 14th of February, came to be known as
Valentine's Day!