Vrindavan widows all set to celebrate Diwali with fervour
AGRA : KC ghat along the Yamuna would offer a dazzling spectacle as about 1000 widows in Vrindavan light earthen lamps (diya) to dispel the darkness eclipsing their lives since ages. These widows are already at work and preparing their ashrams for Diwali. The nearly half a dozen ashrams are being spruced up and painted bright. These widows would gather at KC ghat in Vrindavan on November 10, on the eve of Diwali.
“With an aim to bring a ray of happiness at their twilight years, well-known social reformer and founder of Sulabh Movement, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak has come up with this unique idea to organise the festival of lights specially for the widows,” said Madan Jha, media advisor for Sulabh Movement, while talking to HT on Saturday.
“Diwali celebrations would take place at KC ghat on the bank of river Yamuna and a century-old widow ashram in Vrindavan. For this, the procession of widows with ‘diya’ would begin from Meerasahabhagini Widow Sadan in Bhoot Ghali of Vrindavan,” said Jha.
“These widows would gather at KC ghat and light the diyas on November 10, a day prior to Diwali,” said Jha, adding that Dr Bindeshwar Pathak would reach Vrindavan on November 9 to be part of the widows’ Diwali celebration.
“The celebration at KC ghat would include lighting of ‘phul-jhadi’. All six ashrams being run by Sulabh Movement are being decorated with rangoli to usher in festivity. The celebration would end with a cultural programme and special dinner,” he said. “We had been celebrating Holi and Rakshabandhan but Diwali had been low profile. This time it would be a fullfledged festival of lights for these widows to conquer the darkness they have been pushed into by neglect of society,” said Jha.