Activists of the right-wing Hindu organization, the Shiv Sena, burn greeting cards during a demonstration denouncing Valentine's Day in Amritsar on February 13, 2011.
The commercial holiday is a very tricky subject in India. It is not uncommon to see Hindu nationalists burn greeting cards, posters or other related products in protest. The groups believe that the day symbolizes an invasion of Western values that jeopardize Hindu culture.
Even so, stuffed animals and heart-shaped chocolate boxes have found their way to India’s streets, Forbes reports.
The holiday’s commercial opportunities please many businesses, especially florists. The mandatory bouquets mean big profits for flower exporters, accounting for 40% to 45% of India’s annual flower exports, according to the Times of India.