It was a special day for R. Pragruthaa who celebrated her 24th birthday on Wednesday. Not just because it was her birthday, the day – 11-12-13 – will be the last sequential date for the next 90 years. “I was excited when I got to know that my birthday falls on a special date this year,” she said.
Special dates such as 11-11-11 and 12-12-12 are generally preferred as probable wedding dates and by expecting mothers to schedule deliveries.
“In the past, there have been special requests from women to schedule Caesarean sections on such dates since the birthdays are easy to remember. But this trend has declined owing to health complications and safety issues involved in the procedure,” said an employee of a city hospital.
Authorities in the Government Rajaji Hospital, Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Apollo Speciality Hospitals said there had been no special requests for deliveries on Wednesday.
Those in the families which had babies born on Wednesday were, however, overjoyed. Shanmukapriya, who gave birth to a healthy baby boy at Lady Willingdon Maternity Care Hospital on Wednesday said she was happy with her son’s unique birthday date.
While most wedding halls in the city were booked on Wednesday for marriages, a majority of them only had the pre-wedding ceremonies scheduled for the day. “Though we were looking to schedule the wedding to coincide with the special date, the next day was considered more auspicious and we had to opt for it,” said K. Suresh Mani, a family member of a couple tying the knot on Thursday.
A few beauty parlours and shops selling electronic goods in the city cashed in on the day by offering special discounts.