Controversy behind, Vrindavan widows march for Yamuna

Vrindavan October 21 (IANS)

Ignoring the controversy generated by cine star turned politician Hema Malini, who represents Mathura-Vrindavan in the Lok Sabha, suggesting widows from the East should not come to Vrindavan as it was the duty of the respective state government to look after them, the thousand odd widows Tuesday evening marched in a procession through the narrow streets of this holy town to demand a cleaner Yamuna and urgent steps to check pollution in the river worshipped and revered by millions of Sri Krishna-Radha devotees.

Several hundred of them took out a procession holding Diyas (earthen lamps) in their hands symbolising fight against darkness, to focus public attention on the sad state of the river in Braj area. "The virtually dead river has been reduced to a vast sewage canal bringing down all the waste and toxins from upstream cities and Delhi," said an elderly widow Roopa.

Like others "we too are concerned about the river. Most of us come to Vrindavan because of our love for Krishna and the Yamuna river, but now the situation is unbearable," said 104 year old Lalita Adhikari.

At the initiative of Sulabh International, Vrindavan widows began their three day celebrations at the seven ashrams in the holy town. Snapping their links of bondage with the past, the widows in Vrindavan have been celebrating all the festivals and living life on their own terms. Vocational training is being provided to many.  

The festival mood was infectious as the locals too joined them in singing bhajans.

Earlier treated as "inauspicious", they were not allowed to take part in rituals, till NGO Sulabh International took a keen interest in their upliftment. 

All the seven ashrams in Vrindavan have been decorated tastefully with lights and earthen lamps for Diwali. 

Widows in these ashrams are being looked after by NGO Sulabh International, which is taking care of their health and day-to-day requirements.

"Sulabh will continue with its nationwide campaign for the welfare of widows," NGO's founder Bindeshwar Pathak said. 

Pathak said he intended to draft a bill and hand it over to the Parliament to improve the plight of widows, who are abandoned by their families and urged all political parties to support the proposed bill drafted by him.