'I love and value my friends and this is a special day to celebrate friendship. Through this day I just want to tell everyone that they are special and thank them for being there in my life,' said photographer Randeep Singh Pundir.

Pundir has already made plans with his friends to celebrate Friendship Day which is on Aug 2 this year.

'As it is a Sunday, my friends will come to my place where we will chat and remember our good old days when we were careless and carefree in college,' he said.

For public relations executive Bhavna Katyal this day is another excuse to be with friends and chill out.

'In today's hectic world, you hardly get time to be with your friends. Hectic working hours, long distances play spoilsport and hence we don't get time to catch up even if we are living in the same city,' Katyal told IANS.

'I completely believe in celebrating this day because it gives me an excuse to be with my friends and enjoy. On a normal day, we only speak on the phone; hence this is a perfect day to chill out.'

(Shilpa Raina can be contacted at shilpa.r@ians.in)