Folk-fusion songs, One Billion Rising walk mark V-Day in Kolkata

Kolkata, Feb 15: An evening of folk-fusion love songs, doting grandparents singing and dancing with toddlers, love birds making a memory in photo booths and alluring gifts of gold and diamonds marked the Valentine's day celebrations here Thursday.

Saint Valentine's Day, commonly known as Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is observed worldwide Feb 14 to commemorate love.

The week preceding the day starts with Rose Day (Feb 7), followed by Proposal Day, Chocolate Day, Teddy Day, Promise Day, Hug Day and Kiss Day Feb 13.

Apart from exchanging cards, gifts and flowers, couples - young, old and new - were spotted posing and clicking photographs in front of an Eiffel Tower replica at a photo booth at a popular coffee parlour in the city.

A leading pre-school chain, Tree House Education and Accessories Limited, celebrated the day as "Grandparents's Day" with both grandparents and children participating in activities like singing, dancing, skits and games.

Couples ready to take the plunge and those wanting to renew their love for each other expressed themselves through a newly-launched scintillating gold and diamond jewellery line by Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri Ltd. that includes engagement and wedding rings, bangles and necklaces with intricate work.

On a sombre note, more than 1,000 men and women marched side by side for the global "One Billion Rising" campaign from the centrally located Shahid Minar to the College Street market in the north of the city to raise their voices opposing crimes against women.

A blissful atmosphere created by folk-fusion love songs sung in English, Hindi and Bengali by city-based band Fiddler's Green at Gallery Suchitra enthralled one and all.

IANS