Lock as symbol of Love has been doing its rounds in the world. The latest update is from Paris the Pont des Arts, Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor and the Pont de l’Archevêché bridges where couples put their love locks on railings, fence, gate, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love for their sweetheart.
They come with their their partner and put locks on and throw the keys underneath. At times they engrave their figures or names on the locks. Lovers believe even if their relation ends but the lock will cement their Love for ever. Lots of people gather round to see the varied old and new locks. Copying this trend the lovers have started in London to put locks on the railings of Millennium bridge.
Way back in 1915 the girls in Serbia started putting locks on the bridges to perpetuate their love in memory of Nada and Relja who were known for their love story and used to meet on a bridge. The young girls to protect their own loves, started writing down their names, together with the names of their loved ones, on padlocks and affixing them to the railing of bridges.Their are many versions of Love padlocks appearing in Europe since early 2000. In Rome, on the bridge Ponte Milovio is traced back to the movie writer Federico Moccia which was later adopted for film Tre metri sopra il cielo.
A Taiwanese legend from Fenggyan says that love padlocks were affixed to the railing believing that magnetic field created by train passing underneath will generate enough energy for their love to strengthen and fulfill couples’ wishes.
Controversies:
There are many conflicting reports for these Love locks from different parts of the world. The Love Locks started to appear again on the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne, Germany when public didn’t like the threat issued by the Railways.
Love padlocks were removed from the Humber Bridge in Toronto, Canada due to concerns over aesthetics and structural concerns if the Bridge were to become a love padlock destination.
They had started to put locks on the “suicide bridge” in Telemly district from 7th September 2013 but were banned and removed from the 9th September two days later. This was due to a video by the Imam which said putting locks was forbidden in Islam. The locks were cut opened by using a welding torch.
In Paris in the bridges mentioned above, the locks were removed 11th May 2010 by a student to make sculpture after a statement issued by Town hall note that the locks raise problems for the preservation of our architectural heritage. After the Administration denied to have issued the statement
