Biennale Vibes, Budget Tours: Kerala Celebrates a Different Valentine’s Day
Across converted warehouses, courtyards and waterfront sites, pairs were seen exploring installations and attending screenings together
This year, Valentine’s Day in Kochi feels very different — less 'rose or candlelight dinner' and more art, conversation, wandering together — mainly because the city is in the middle of the Kochi‑Muziris Biennale.
Valentine’s Day celebrations in Kochi are taking on an unconventional tone this year, as the ongoing Kochi‑Muziris Biennale reshapes how couples and tourists mark the occasion.
With the international contemporary art festival running across heritage venues in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry through March, couples are increasingly opting for gallery walks, performances and discussions instead of traditional dinners and gift-giving.
Dates move from restaurants to art spaces
Across converted warehouses, courtyards and waterfront sites, pairs were seen exploring installations and attending screenings together. Organisers say the shift reflects the festival’s participatory format, which encourages viewers to interpret artworks rather than passively observe them.
Local cafés reported steady footfall throughout the week, but patrons spent longer hours moving between exhibition venues before gathering for conversations — often about the art they had just encountered.
A broader celebration
Observers say the Biennale has softened the exclusivity often associated with the day. Public venues, open discussions and collaborative activities have enabled singles and social groups to participate alongside couples.
This year, Kochi's version of Valentine’s Day appears less defined by romantic display and more by shared cultural engagement — a reflection of how a large-scale art event can influence everyday social rituals.
In Kerala, Valentine’s Day celebrations suggest a shift from romantic gestures like candlelight dinners, roses and gifts to shared cultural spaces.
KSRTC Budget Tours
To make this Valentine’s Day an unforgettable experience, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has announced budget tours for couples to romantic destinations across the state. The KSRTC Budget Tourism Cell in Kanhangad is organizing a special Valentines Day sailing trip on February 13, offering a "sailing trip for lovers" package. The trip includes a night journey to Kochi, sightseeing at Mattancherry and Fort Kochi, and a luxury cruise on the ship.
Adding a touch of sweetness to the day, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation has announced a special discounted sugar sale. Though the initiative is part of the corporation’s golden jubilee celebrations, it has quickly gained attention as an attempt by the government-run agency to connect with younger customers during the Valentine’s season. Under the offer, sugar is being sold at ₹14 per kilogram.