Shun Widowhood Rituals Like Breaking Of Bangles And Wiping Sindoor, Maharashtra Govt Tells Villages

The Maharashtra government has now asked gram sabhas in the state to follow the example of Herwad village that banned widowhood rituals

New Delhi: On May 5, the Herwad gram panchayat in Shirol taluka in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district passed a resolution that banned customs such as breaking a widow's bangles, removing her mangalsutra, toe ring, and wiping her sindoor (vermilion) as part of age-old rituals after her husband’s death.

The Maharashtra government has now asked gram sabhas in the state to follow the example of Herwad village, news agency PTI reported. According to the report, Rural Development and Labour Minister Hasan Mushrif has said old and "ill practices" should not continue in this era of science.

An official statement was issued on Wednesday, according to which the state's rural development department issued a circular in this regard on Tuesday.

"The Herwad gram panchayat in Kolhapur banned rituals of widowhood by passing a resolution in that regard ‘now other gram panchayats (in the state) need to be encouraged," Mushrif was quoted as saying in the statement released.

 "Old ill practices should not have any place in a science-oriented era. Other gram panchayats in the state should also pass resolutions like the Herwad gram panchayat," he added.

Stressing on the need to spread awareness obout the ban, the state government in the circular asked all gram panchayats to conduct initiatives to uphold the dignity of women who lose their husbands.

The resolution passed on May 5 seeks to do away away with age-old customs including widows being barred from attending social and religious gatherings. The circular clearly mentioned that such regressive practices violate human rights and hurt dignity offered to women by the Constitution and it’s the need of the hour to eradicate such customs.

In India, a lot has changed inclduing the ban of ‘sati’ practice of self immolation, but there are so many customs, which are still being followed by widows. The latest directives of the Maharashtra government is one such step in improving lives of widows in the country.