PUNE: Candle-lit dinners and chocolate-covered strawberries may just get a break this Valentine’s Day as more and more Puneites are opting for special activities to spend quality time with their partners.From art events to fitness-related activities, the endeavours have been planned to let people explore and experience something they wouldn’t otherwise.Yoga trainer Shraddha Gupta has organized two sessions of Partner Yoga at Multifit Aundh on Valentine’s Day. “People generally opt for a date night on Valentine’s Day but we wanted to offer something beyond that. I have been taking partner stretches in my regular sessions and they are well-appreciated so I thought of having a separate partner yoga session for February 14,” she explained.Gupta shared that the session will focus on partners challenging and understanding each other. “People can understand the physical shortcomings of their partner and learn to be patient. Here, the partner does not necessarily mean a spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend. It means any loved one. Through the activity, partners can understand each other and help the other grow,” she added.Bring Into Being Art and Recreation Centre in Pimpri Chinchwad has slotted three art activities including decoupage, couple canvas painting and pottery as a part of its Artsy Couple Date event. Centre coordinator Pritika Shetty said, “We wanted to hold an unconventional activity for couples to spend time together and connect with each other at a different level. The event will not only create awareness about art but also help couples create something together and take it back home. It will also enable them to take home memories.”Those without a date have also been covered as several socializing events have been arranged in the city.Classic Rock Coffee Co in Kalyaninagar has organized a speed friendship event on the day. “Many people don’t have a date on Valentine’s Day but that does not mean they cannot go out and have a good time. The event will allow entry for all,” said events manager Manu Vijayan.“Each person will have another sitting opposite them and once the time starts, they have to interact with each other for two to three minutes. Then each person has to move to the next seat in a clockwise direction and interact with the next person. Once all interactions are completed and everyone is acquainted, they can choose to spend time with anyone in the dining area or the lounge where a DJ will play music,” Vijayan explained.For many, Valentine’s Day is not restricted to their spouses. For years, city-based working professional Purva Sankhla has been going out on lunch dates with her girlfriends. “On Valentine’s Day, people go out with their loved ones. When we were in college, we also thought we should celebrate with our loved ones. Being in a girl’s college, we decided to celebrate the occasion with our girlfriends. This has become a ritual now so we girlfriends go out for lunch each Valentine’s Day even though all of us are married now,” she laughed.

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