KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 13

Valentine's Day, although not originally a part of Nepali culture, has become a day where individuals can express their love and affection for their special someone. As Nepal embraces global trends in fashion, culture, and social media, Valentine's Day, marked every year on February 14, has become a highly anticipated event, not just among teenagers, but also among the older generations.

Translated into Nepali as 'Pranaya Diwas' or 'Prem Diwas', this day offers a special opportunity for 28-year-old Solomaya Tamang to 'strengthen my relationship with my husband'.

A home nurse by profession, she has plans to spend this year's Valentine's Day with her husband, a job-holder, as the duo will take time out of their busy schedules.

'Most of the time, we don't have time for each other because of our hectic work routines.'

Though not a part of Nepali culture, Valentine's Day has proved to be the apt day for Tamang and her husband 'to make our bond stronger' as this is the only day dedicated to couples and love, says Tamang.

Laxmi Simkhada also has a special connection with Valentine's Day.

'What's special about Valentine's Day is that it provides an opportunity for us to clear our misunderstandings and show our love for each other,' the 21-year-old said referring to her relationship with her boyfriend.

Last Valentine's Day, she gifted roses to her partner and they went for coffee. 'It's a great memory to cherish and recall as celebrating love on this particular day makes it even more special,' said Simkhada who is looking forward to this year's celebration too.Valentine's Day is also a way to appreciate the effort Ashish Magar and his girlfriend have put into their relationship.

The 26-year-old, who runs a travel agency, shared, 'I started celebrating Valentine's Day after seeing other people mark the day.'

But sadly, he will miss his girlfriend this year as Magar revealed that she is out of the country. 'We'd usually go out for lunch on this particular day,' he revealed.

Whatever the reason for celebration, Valentine's Day has become an unavoidable part of Nepali culture in recent days.And Nepalis' adoption of Western cultural practices could have led to this celebration too, points out Mrigendra Bahadur Karki, executive director of Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies at Tribhuvan University.

As someone who refers to himself as a student of sociology, he added, 'Although traditional Nepali culture has its own romantic love stories, such as the story of Muna Madan, the younger generation does not necessarily connect to them.'

Every February 14, lovers around the world exchange candies, flowers, and gifts, all in the name of St Valentine.

Though there is no way toplace the beginning of the celebration, one place to start is the West.

And its reach in Nepal can be credited to the 'advancement of science and technology which has helped make the world a global village', says Karki.

To this, Mahan Uchai, lecturer of social work at Tribhuvan University, added that the education system in Nepal is heavily influenced by Western education 'which has contributed to the rapid establishment of Western norms and values in our society'. Along with that, Nepal's development practices arenot entirely self-driven 'but rather a result of adopting Western tools and techniques'.

These factors have led to the adoption of Western culture here, including the celebration of Valentine's Day.

'In the Western society, love is a private affair, whereas in the Eastern society, love is considered a collective affair. In Nepal, love exists, but it is often kept secret, following the practice of noble lie.

'Valentine's Day has challenged this practice, but it is essential to celebrate the day while still preserving the beauty of the noble lie in Nepali society,' he argued.

'Nepali culture has its own romantic love stories, but youngsters don't connect to them'

A version of this article appears in the print on February 14, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.