Mangalore: 5000 Women Pledge Against Widowhood Customs at Kudroli Temple
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Jan 1: In a bold and historic step, as many as 5000 married women took oath at Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple that they would not get rid of their marriage symbols, like mangalasutra and kumkum, in the event of the death of their husbands.
The ceremony, held on Sunday January 1 with an aim to eradicate the discrimination against widows in society, was led by former union minister Janardhan Poojary, whose mission it has been to give new identity to widows and bring them to the mainstream.
Addressing the gathering, Poojary said that the Temple was founded on February 21, 1912 by social reformer and saint Brahmashree Narayana Guru, and that the year 2012 will mark its centenary year. To mark the occasion as well as a form of new year resolution, the married women took the symbolic oath of not following the traditional customs attached with widowhood after their husbands die.
He further said that it is the society that degrades a widow and makes her feel that her life is of no use without her husband. "It is not necessary to follow customs such as removing bangles, mangalsutra, kumkum and so on after the death of husband. One should come out of such notions and help widows lead a normal life," he said.
"We are all God's children, and nobody is untouchable or lower than others. Then why this discrimination against widows?" he questioned.
All the 5000 women took oath before the god on their own accord. They took part in 'chandika homa' performed prior to the the oath taking, and also pulled a silver chariot around the Temple premises. They were given saris, blouse pieces, bangles, kumkum and flowers.
Speaking to Daijiworld, Shashikala Bantwal, one of the women who took the oath, said that sati system and child marriage have been followed for many years, even though people are getting educated. The present generation should not follow such customs. Women should live with dignity, and support such steps aimed at social reformation, she added.
In October 2011 on the occasion of Diwali, in a similar gesture, thousands of widows took part in the celebrations and offered puja at the same Temple, under the guidance of Poojary. At the time, five married women including his wife too had taken the oath not to follow traditional customs of widowhood after the death of their husbands.
From Daijiworld Archives: