Grand homecoming for Vrindavan, Varanasi widows ahead of Durga Puja

Nearly 60 widows from Vrindavan and Varanasi Friday arrived here to a grand welcome to celebrate Durga Puja in their native land they were forced to leave decades ago.

The widows, mostly in their late 70s and early 80s and even one in her mid-90s, were excited when they landed in West Bengal after decades. They were forced to take shelter in ashrams in Uttar Pradesh after they lost their husbands.

The visit was organized by NGO Sulabh International.

After the Supreme Court expressed grave anguish over the appalling conditions in which the widows live, Sulabh took responsibility for care of 800 widows in seven ashrams in Vrindavan and 200 in five ashrams in Varanasi.

Kanak Lata Devi, 95, landed on the soil of her forefathers after 40 years to enjoy the festival and was excited at the week-long trip.

The group was given a warm welcome, marked with beating of drums and blowing of conch shells, as they reached Howrah station Friday morning.

Their visit to West Bengal comes against the backdrop of a controversy generated by the comments made by Mathura MP Hema Malini, of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, that widows from Bengal and Bihar should not crowd Vrindavan.

"Their trip to Kolkata is an effort to bring some joy and sense of belongingness to their lives. They are coming to the land of their ancestors," said Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh.

Talking to IANS, Pathak said the West Bengal government should come forward to help his NGO for welfare of widows.

"It is not just a Puja tour for them. They will go back to their roots. It is a journey down memory lane," he said.

Later in the day, the widows called on West Bengal Governor Kesri Nath Tripathi at Raj Bhawan here.

Welcoming the widows to their homeland, Tripathi said this tradition should end and children should take care of their parents instead of sending to Vrindavan or Varanasi.