A no-rulebook Galentine’s Day celebration taking over the city

Chennai embraces Galentine's Day with events celebrating platonic love, friendship, and self-care, creating a new tradition in the city.

As you stroll around the city, some florists are stacking up bouquets and roses in shades of carmine, ready for Valentine’s day as usual. But this year, the hype isn’t about the couples but women buying a bunch of blooms for their gal pals, turning it into a full-on sisterhood fest. Cue the confetti, it’s Galentine’s day taking the cake.

More than ever, women in Chennai are flooding their socials with Galentine’s plans, inviting others to hop on this intentional celebration of putting platonic love front and centre. But what makes it pop more than a Friendship day? Galentine’s is the glow-up version, forget the rulebooks. It isn’t an antidote or panacea for V-day nor is it about giving FOMO the cold shoulder. What started as a fictional holiday on February 13 in an American sitcom has now metamorphosed into a real life party around the world!

So, what is Chennai up to, you ask? Well, the city is unequivocally invested in Galentine’s this year, events unfurling both on Thursday and Friday. From pottery to networking events, bento cake workshops to concocting a signature scent with your pal, the possibilities are abundant.

“You know, this Galentine’s Day is all about bringing different circles of women together to celebrate love on their own terms- something I never really saw growing up,” says Sunitha Chakravarthi of Paint Me Happy, a ceramic studio in T Nagar, who has curated a Galentine’s day events throughout the week. “We even have women coming by themselves and to connect with other women here, and make platonic friendships at the event,” adds Sunitha, who’s got the 14th booked with spots sold out. As a fresh concept in Chennai, with no schedule or rigid agenda like a candlelight dinner or anything, it is just a day dedicated to romanticise your existence, and the female friends around.

It only builds from there, with more events planned in the city unlike the previous years. In Egmore, an event management company Smileplanners is hosting ‘xoxo Galentines party’ with main-character experiences. “We have got Galentine-themed activities lined up, such as networking games to help you connect with fellow women, unwind and also to celebrate yourself in an inclusive setting,” says Aysha, founder and creative director of Smileplanners. She’s hyped for women to hit pause, break out of the grind, and make this Galentine’s one to remember.