As the world celebrates Valentine’s Day with roses and chocolates, the city of Agra, home to the iconic Taj Mahal, offers a deeper reflection on love, one that transcends fleeting gestures and commercialized rituals.

"True love is timeless," mused James, a tourist from Australia, as he stood before the Taj Mahal, its ivory-white marble glowing under the winter sun. "Shah Jahan built this marvel for his wife, Mumtaz, who bore him 14 children. In the West, you’d need a dozen wives for that!" he chuckled, his words echoing the enduring legacy of love that the Taj symbolizes. 

Read in Hindi: 'क्षणभंगुर इशारों' और 'व्यावसायिक दिखावों' से परे है प्यार

The Taj Mahal, often called "a teardrop on the cheek of eternity" by Rabindranath Tagore, stands as a testament to love’s power to transcend time and mortality. Yet, as couples exchange gifts and social media buzzes with declarations of affection, Marie, a visitor from France, questions the modern obsession with material expressions of love. "Why the fixation on chocolates and roses in the land of the Kamasutra?" she asked after watching ‘Mohabbat the Taj’, a mesmerizing performance that brings to life the grandeur of Mughal romance, at the Kalakriti auditorium.

 "Here in India, love has always been deeper, more spiritual, more enduring, and a timeless bond," says social activist Padmini Iyer. India’s concept of love has long intrigued outsiders. "How do people marry without knowing their partner intimately?" wonders a visitor to Agra, where foreign couples increasingly opt for traditional Hindu weddings. Yet, despite the prevalence of arranged marriages, Indian unions are often celebrated for their longevity, a stark contrast to the rising divorce rates in the West. 

But the tides of tradition are shifting. "Love marriages are no longer as taboo as they once were," says Pavan, a university student. "More young people are choosing their partners, often after years of courtship." His classmate Anita believes societal fears around love marriages are exaggerated. "The failure rate is the same for both arranged and love marriages. It’s just that in a caste-driven society, rebels are discouraged, and failures are amplified to maintain old traditions." 

Nivedita, another friend, highlights a growing trend: ‘arranged love marriages’, where couples fall in love first and then convince their families to formalize the relationship. "In most cases, parents have little choice when both partners are financially independent," she notes. "Love is no longer blind; it’s just selective." 

Yet, not everyone is swayed by the Valentine’s Day frenzy. "Why confine love to one day?" asks Rakesh, a local shopkeeper. "Love should guide our lives every day, not be reduced to a commercial gimmick where you must buy gifts to prove your feelings." 

Love, however, remains as unpredictable as ever. Rahul, a teacher, found his soulmate through a wrong phone call. "I was at Delhi University, she was in Gwalior. One misdialed number led to endless conversations, and eventually, a wedding. Love finds its way, no matter the odds," he laughs, his story a modern-day twist on the serendipity of romance. 

The stigma around love is fading, says social activist Abhinay. "Earlier, people would suffer lifelong heartache in silence. Now, young lovers fight for their choices, even if it means defying traditions." He points to cases where even married women, mothers of three or four, elope for love. "With increased mobility and independence, caste barriers are breaking. Love is evolving, and so is society." 

Amidst these changing narratives, the Taj Mahal remains an eternal symbol of love. "Every day, thousands visit this monument, believing it strengthens their relationships," says a hotelier from Taj Ganj. "There’s something in its aura, something that cements love in ways no Valentine’s Day card ever could." 

As Shakespeare once wrote, "Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds." In the shadow of the Taj, love is not confined to a single day or a single form. It is a quiet devotion, a grand gesture, a whispered promise. It is the courage to defy tradition, the serendipity of a wrong number, and the resilience to endure. 

Because in the end, love is not about a day. It’s about a lifetime. And perhaps, a little bit of eternity.