BBC NEWS | In Depth | In pictures: World marks Valentine's Day

As part of the world gets out its red roses, pink hearts or anything remotely cute, St Valentine's Day has also provoked controversy in some countries.

Kenyans line up to buy roses from a street vendor in the capital Nairobi

Kenyan flower street vendors had a good day, as men in their thousands went on a hunt for red bouquets.

Couple celebrate Valentine's Day by participating in an underwater wedding extravaganza.

In Thailand, almost 40 couples set up a new world record for the largest underwater wedding.

A Thai couple kiss each other near an elephant during a mass wedding ceremony.

Thailand had a double scoop, with dozens of couples taking part in another mass wedding ceremony .

(Left picture) A woman picks flowers at a shop in Hong Kong, and (right picture) a dummy decorated with a pair of wings.

Flowers were also in huge demand in Hong Kong, and some businesses used the "love" day to attract more customers.

A barmaid pulls a pint of Alcofrolic in an English pub

A pub in England decided to celebrate the day by serving up a beer it claimed was an aphrodisiac

Iranian women pass as a shop displaying Valentine's day hearts and toys in the capital, Tehran.

In Iran, authorities have shut several shops selling Valentine's Day products, saying they were an insult to Islam...

Supporters of a right-wing party in India burn a Valentine's Day placard in Calcutta.

...while in India, dozens of religious activists went on the rampage against stores selling Valentine's Day products.