The widows in Varanasi, usually shunned on auspicious occasions, celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan on Tuesday by tying rakhi on the wrist of social reformer Bindeshwari Pathak, who is working for their upliftment.
The widows gathered at the Nepali Ashram on the banks of the Ganga river to celebrate the festival in presence of seers and Sanskrit scholars.
Normally, widows, who are considered inauspicious, are not allowed to celebrate such festivals.
Dr Bindeshwari Pathak, founder of Sulabh international, told reporters that this was an exercise designed to create awareness in society against the stigma that is attached to widowhood.
“Such programmes will help the widows return to the social mainstream and will prevent discrimination,” he said. He also sought the support of the Hindu seers, saints and Sanskrit scholars in opposing the practices attached to widowhood by organising more such programmes.
Sulabh International, known for promoting the concept of low-cost sanitation, began the initiative for the welfare of widows after the Supreme Court took strong exception to the manner in which the bodies of widows, who lived in government shelter homes at Vrindavan, were disposed.
Sulabh has recently launched a pension and medical welfare scheme for about 200 widows in Varanasi. The group pays `2,000 every month to each widow living in four shelters in the holy city.
Arrangements have also been made to impart education to the widows in three languages — Hindi, Bengali and English.