On the eve of Valentine’s Day, women celebrate their female friendships, calling it Galentine’s day, a made-up holiday from the American sitcom Parks and Recreation. But it’s clearly not confined to the West, because Chennai saw a flurry of Galentine’s Day gatherings this weekend.
Dyutika S., a full-time photographer, curated one such event in the city, where women aged 19 to 27 came with their “girl pals”. “We had a canvas painting session and wrote handwritten letters to each other on pink postcards, while sharing pastries.
“A couple of years ago, I did not even know about this concept of Galentine’s Day. But this year, it seems to have picked up momentum, and women in their 20s are far more interested in it,” Ms. Dyutika said.
She added that many may be curious about attending such gatherings but hesitate because they lack company, so the event provided a space for strangers to form platonic friendships too.
Kriya, who runs Social Age, a community platform that focuses on curating social experiences, says many women who are single or those navigating long-distance relationships must not feel left out while the city celebrates love.
