A group of Indian romantics is to hold an online love-letter writing contest to coincide with Valentine's Day.
The contest, set to run from February 14-22, is aimed at countering today's practice of sending each other short messages over mobile phones, the Lovers' Organisation for Voluntary Exhibition (LOVE) said today in the eastern city of Calcutta.
"Writing love-letters is an art and a nicely written letter is something a person cherishes throughout his life," LOVE president Mr Rupak Manush told Reuters.
"A message sent over a cellphone can never be a replacement for a letter to communicate how one feels for his loved one. The love-letter writing contest is an attempt to revive the practice of sending letters," he added.
Those wishing to participate should send entries to rupak@loversrupak.com, he said.
The letters would be judged by a jury headed by famed Indian novelist Mr Sunil Gangopadhyay and the best 100 letters would be published in book form, he said.
LOVE was formed late last year to represent young love-struck couples. Last December, the group urged local authorities to give them a "love zone" as a New Year's present so that lovers could meet without harassment.
It said it wanted city authorities to set aside land where people could meet romantically without being disturbed by police. Holding hands and kissing in public is still frowned upon in conservative India. The city still has not made a decision yet on the request for a love zone.