Trapped in social taboo and apathy, the widows of Vrindavan city in India have never celebrated any festival since decades. However, this year it was different, as these aged women celebrated the festival of lights at the century-old widow shelter from October 31 to November 3.
“These aged widows, many of them child widows, were abandoned by their families or had fled their inhospitable homes. Facing brutal realities of life, these widows finally landed at Vrindavan—a waiting place before death,” said Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, a social reformer and founder of Sulabh International (a NGO working for the welfare of these widows).
For Diwali celebrations, thousands of earthen pots were all craftily arranged and painted by these unfortunate women, including the five widow ashrams (the shelters), which were decorated with lights. For the first time, they lit candles and earthen diyas (or lamps); played with lighting crackers; and participated in colorful cultural program before enjoying dinner together.
Sulabh started working in the welfare of widows last year, after the Supreme Court of India responded strongly to the inhumane manner in which the dead bodies of widows, who lived in government shelter homes at Vrindavan, were disposed after death.
Widows of the historical Indian city who have inspired movies and literature are basically uneducated and not in a position to support themselves financially. On top of this, due to age old Indian tradition these widows have got no share in family assets.
The NGO started to help each of the 900 widows in the five shelters with a stipend of 500 rupees every month, which was later increased to 2,000 rupees. These women traditionally have to cook for themselves and abstain from social life and this money helps them to subsist. Here they also get a chance to learn Basic English, Hindi, and Bengali languages. The NGO also organize livelihood opportunities for them like weaving flower garlands, making incense sticks, and stitching dress for the god idols.
Earlier this year the widows also for the first time celebrated Holi by sprinkling “gulal” (the colored powder) and flowers on each other. During the last one year Sulabh has organized many such events to help widows integrate into the social mainstream.
“Sulabh will continue with its nationwide campaign for welfare of widows,” he added.
In Varanasi and Vrindavan, thousands of widows still continue to live isolated lives. “I strongly feel time has come for the government to enact a law for the welfare, protection, and maintenance of widows so that their living conditions and general existence are improved,” he said.
