Love and marriage for a widow on Diwali in Vrindavan

Widows of Vrindavan celebrated Diwali this year with a widow remarriage

Tina Das Tina Das
अक्टूबर 20, 2017
Vinita and Rakesh's marriage brings in a brighter Diwali for the widows of Vrindavan

How did you celebrate Diwali? The usual mithai, crackers, puja, new clothes and family? Do you know that this Diwali was a special one for the widows of Vrindavan? Almost 500 of them attended a wedding in the Gopinath Temple of Vrindavan.

The wedding attended by around 500 widows. Source : Sulabh International The wedding attended by around 500 widows. Source : Sulabh International
 

You might ask why it was special. Well, two reasons:

1. Widows at a function, even in 2017 are considered a bad omen. I mean, look at Babul, the movie starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee. All Bollywood melodrama apart, it did spell out what usually happens in most places of India. Widows are preferably kept away from being involved in marriage ceremonies at least.

2. The marriage was that of a widow. So, technically, it was a remarriage, of 23 year old Vinita Devi to Rakesh.

Why was Vinita's marriage a cause for celebration?

Representational image Representational image
 

90 year old Manu Ghosh told Hindustan Times, "Her marriage is a message for the society that believes a woman's life ends if she becomes a widow." Manu is a widow too.

Vinita had lost her husband in the 2013 Kedarnath landslide. On 16-17 June 2013, waters rushed down from Chorabari Tal or Gandhi Sarovar bringing along with it, a huge amount of silt, rocks and boulders. The flood water gushed on both sides of the Kedarnath temple destroying everything in its path in the middle of pilgrimage season. It nearly destroyed the town of Kedarnath and also killed Vinita's husband.

Vinita's life as a widow

Diwali by widows of Vrindavan Diwali by widows of Vrindavan
 

Mother to two children, Vinita remained confined to her in-laws house in Devlidhanigram in Rudraprayag district for two months after her husband's death. Later, she left for her native village Kamodi and began living with her mother.

Vinita eventually found love in the shape of Rakesh.They had a court marriage in 2014. But the society around them would not accept their marriage. This made Vinita determined to have a proper Hindu wedding with all the rituals and customs. It was made possible by Sulabh International, an NGO that works for the welfare of widows in Vrindavan.

Sulabh International and widows of Vrindavan

The widows gathred to bless the newlyweds Source : Sulabh International The widows gathred to bless the newlyweds Source : Sulabh International
 

Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International said, "Her marriage before the community is not just an act of courage but a learning that women's life does not end if she is left alone due to some reason." His words reflect his deep commitment towards helping widows stand on their own feet and earn their own livelihood.

While marriage is an individual choice, surviving on one's own is a task important for all women. Vinita too will be trained by Sulabh International so that she can be an equal partner in her marriage financially.

The marriage itself was colorful and joyous affair. The widows had come to witness and bless the newlyweds, who had finally managed to get married in a public ceremony. This was their Diwali, and they want that every widow should be able to live the life they want to- in a dignified manner.

The marriage was solemnised in a public ceremony three years after the court marriage of the couple. Source : Sulabh International The marriage was solemnised in a public ceremony three years after the court marriage of the couple. Source : Sulabh International
 

The bride was excited and shopped in Chandni Chowk for the wedding. There were also special performances by dancer Shobvana Naryan to make the occasion even special. And the widows of Vrindavan had an extra reason to smile on Diwali.

This is a beautiful story of love, courage and dignity, isn't it? Tell us if you know of more stories like these.

 

 

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