Marriage preparations have begun. Pix: Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Feb. 9: After a gap of 12 years, this Valentine’s Day would be an auspicious occasion to tie the knot, predict astrologers here.

As a result, hotels and banquet halls are overflowing with booking orders and most of them have already been booked for February 14.

Ranchi-based astrologer Pandit Bhaironath Pathak said: “Last year we had asked couples to refrain from getting married on February 14 due to the effect of shani. But this year, the day is most auspicious as it is on a Panchami.”

Pathak suggested that even mangliks can get married this Valentine’s Day. “Married couples experiencing discord in their relationship, can visit Shiv temple and solve their problems,” Pathak said.

He added that those having Libra, Leo and Aries as their star signs could also get married. “But for Cancerians and Geminis, the day is inauspicious. Tying the knot on V-day would result in tension in their married life,” he said.

Big hotels and banquet halls like Hotel Capitol Hill, Hotel Green Horizon, Hotel Hindustan, Firayalal banquet and Jalsa marriage hall have already been booked. Food and beverage manager of Hotel Green Horizon Kallol Sengupta told The Telegraph that four of their banquet halls, mainly Mariana, Impulse, Conclave I and Conclave 2 have been booked for marriages.

Hotel owners said that many hall bookings had started December last year. An official of Capitol Hill said: “Our senate hall has been booked for marriage by a local party.”

Rohit Singh and Renu Sinha, getting married this year after a four-year courtship, said: “Since it is a love marriage, we decided to make it memorable by tying a knot on V-day. We also convinced our parents who consulted an astrologer.”