Kanchana Devi, 78, would be going to Kolkata almost after five decades. Her family members left her at Mathura railway station after her husband died of fever in one fine morning of late 60s. "I always wanted to go to Kolkata and see its splendour beauty before I die. Now, I would be gong there during Durga Puja," she said.
It will be a homecoming of a different kind for widows of Vrindavan who will visit Kolkata during this year’s Durga Puja. About 50 widows, all hailing from West Bengal, will be visiting their native state for the first time since their husbands died and were hunned by their families - courtesy Sulabh International..
The usual beat of 'dhaak' (drums) associated with Durga Puja cacophony will kindle a new sense of joy among the widows of Mathura and Vrindavan when they fly to Kolkata, the eternal 'City of Joy', after a gap of long, long years to participate in the traditional festivities, founder of Sulabh International Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak said.
These widows will fly to ‘City of Joy’ on October 6 where they will be welcomed by members of YlO, a youth organisation, amid playing of traditional "Dhaak". One of the Puja organisers Joydeep Mukherjee of Pally Mangal Samity said: "We plan to give warm welcome to visiting mothers. They will inaugurate our Pandal in a function which Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee will also be present."
The Kolkata is eagerly awaiting widows could be gauged from the fact that Hindustan Puja Park Committee’s Puja theme this year is Vrindavan. One of its organisers Dr Arijeet Banerjee said: "We are replicating the well known Krishna temple of Vrindavan as a theme of puja pandal this year which will attract visiting widows".
Pathak narrates as how he got the idea to organise this unique reunion for these widows: "A few days back, some of the elderly widows expressed the desire to visit Kolkata during Durga Puja. Though it was a good idea, we were apprehensive what kind of reception these old women will get during ‘puja’ festivities which is a very busy and crowded affair. However, we thought this could be a novel idea that would give them a break from their monotonous lives in the ashrams," In the meantime, some organisers of Puja Committees in Kolkata approached us and said they would make special arrangements to ensure grand reception of the widows, he said.
The widows will inaugurate the Pally Mangal Samity Durga puja at Jodhpur Park and have got invitations from different puja committees like Salt lake FE block and Hindustan Park puja committee."They have had sad lives...We just try and make things a little better for them. Their trip to Kolkata is one such effort to bring some joy and sense of belongingness to their lives. They are going back to the land of their ancestors...They will fly for the first time and you can’t imagine how excited they are," Dr Pathak added.
The Supreme Court had directed the National legal Service Authority (NAlSA) to seek Sulabh’s help to ensure their proper rehabilitation. These widows now get a monthly stipend of Rs.2,000 and also get vocational training."Before Sulabh started helping us, we used to earn just Rs 5 per day. We were living in penury as there was no one to help us. We are now living a life with dignity and do not have to depend on anyone," Kanchana Devi said.