Chocolate Day: Date haze fails to cut sweetness

Ludhiana: With Valentine's Day just a few days from now, people are not letting go of any chance to express and share their feelings with loved ones. As part of the week, Chocolate Day is one of the most-anticipated occasion when gifts are exchanged with an intention to sweeten the moments. And despite a confusion over dates, the city has no reason to complain.
Beautifully decorated baskets, trays and hampers filled with chocolates are flooding the market shelves, much to the delight of city residents. Roma Bawa, the owner of Vintage Chocolates at Model Town, said, ''I started making chocolates five years ago and the response has been tremendous. The best time for us is February, when nearly 300 orders are received in just one month. Each piece costs anything between Rs 6 to Rs 18.''
The owner of gift shop Impressions, Ravi Khurana, said, ''People prefer buying chocolates for friends and that someone special. Most of the customers come during evening, when they have ample time to shop.''
Amrita, a young student, shared the enthusiasm with which Valentine's Day would be celebrated on her campus. ''Chocolate Day is an excellent way to express love and affection,'' she gushed. Though Chocolate Day is traditionally celebrated on the third day of Valentine's week, residents are confused about whether it would fall on Tuesday or Wednesday. Jasdeep Singh, the owner of Archies Gallery at Sarabha Nagar, said, ''We are celebrating Chocolate Day on Tuesday as our calender has been made in Europe and according to that, it falls on February 8.'' He added that the best-selling chocolate flavour was fruit-and-nut this time. ''A huge variety is available and the prices start from Rs 30 and go up to Rs 1,500,'' he said. Sharing her confusion about when to celebrate the day, city resident Gaganpreet Kaur said, ''Somebody says it's on Tuesday, while others claims Wednesday is the day.''
But many like Gurbir Singh have decided to make the most of the confusion. ''I'm celebrating on both the days. The more, the merrier,'' he smiled.