Widows break stigma, pull temple chariot

Women take oath against widowhood symbols after spouses death

When the City celebrates the festival of lights, former Union Minister B Janardhan Poojary ensured that this act is repeated by making the widows pull temple chariot with idols of Lakshmi and Vishnu as Utsav Murthy. In addition, he made his wife and wives of the members of the temple board to take an oath that they shall not accept any symbols of widowhood after their husbands die.

Speaking to the media persons, Poojary said that the trust had decided to distribute saris, vermillion and bangles to 1500 widows on the occasion of Dasara.

However, 2300 widows attended the programme and hence it was decided that the saris to the remaining widows will be distributed on a later date.

The board thought that Deepavali will be the best occasion to organise this auspicious event, he added.

The act of the wives of the members of the temple board surprised many as for the very first time the group took an oath not to accept widowhood even after their husbands die.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Malathi Janardhan Poojary said that she took this step on her own. “I don’t want widows in the society to be traumutised as even they have the right to live respectfully,” she said.

“Marriage is a bond and it does not break with death. The love for the spouse will always be in ones heart. With rise in number of divorces these days, people fail to respect the bond of marriage,” said Janardhan Poojary and stressed that other religious heads should also enforce such practices in other temples.

When questioned about superstitious beliefs regarding the oath, Sashikala Harikrishna Bantwal who also took the oath said that she has full trust in Gokarnanatheshwara that he shall not allow anything negative to happen. “This should be a lesson to the society,” she added.

‘Chandika Homa’ was offered to the Goddess on the occasion. The idols of Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi were carried on the occasion. Later, the silver chariot was pulled around the temple three times by the widows. As many as 500 widows were gifted with saris, vermillion, flowers, bangles and Rs 5.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Chinnamma said that widows are separated from the main strata of the society. They are considered unlucky and treated like Garbage. “What is our mistake in case our husbands die,” she questions and adds that she is happy she saw such a change in systems during her life time.

Another widow on the condition of anonymity said that she was upset because many women visited temple though they have menstruation. “Some ladies may have polluted the temple for the sake of the sari,” she said and added that the attitude of people won’t change with such practices.

Free marriage to widows
Former Union minister Janardhan Poojary has also assured free marriage to the widows in case they have a desire to remarry. The marriage will be done lawfully, he said and added that interested persons can can contact the Kudroli temple office for more information.