Valentine’s Day celebrations in Patna took a dramatic turn as members of the Hindu Shiv Bhavani Sena, armed with sticks, roamed city parks, warning couples against celebrating the occasion. The group declared February 14 a “Black Day”, claiming it was in honor of soldiers martyred in the Pulwama attack.
National President of the organization, Luv Kumar Singh, justified their actions, saying, “…We oppose Valentine’s Day, celebrating it as Black Day in remembrance of the soldiers who were martyred on this day in Pulwama…”.
Patna, Bihar: National President, Hindu Shiv Bhavani Sena, Luv Kumar Singh, says, "…We oppose Valentine's Day, celebrating it as Black Day in remembrance of the soldiers who were martyred on this day in Pulwama…" pic.twitter.com/fmlGP37brr
— IANS (@ians_india) February 14, 2025
Alongside issuing warnings, the group distributed copies of Hanuman Chalisa to couples, urging them to embrace Indian culture instead of Western traditions. Videos of the event quickly went viral, sparking widespread debate on social media.
While some supported the group’s call for honoring soldiers, others criticized their approach, questioning whether moral policing was justified. Authorities have yet to comment on the incident.