In the village of Herwad, Kolhapur (Maharashtra), the gram panchayat unanimously passed a resolution to get rid of all the “widow customs” such as not being permitted to wear colour clothes, jewellery, fashion items, and not to be considered as unlucky by their presence during inauspicious family functions such as marriages and birthdays and so forth.
This progressive step is comparable to the abolishment of ‘sati,’ a horrific practice which was common in the days of yore. The villagers of Herwad are to be congratulated and rewarded by the government for having taken bold steps to get the widows into the mainstream of society and help them lead a normal life.
Let us hope that other villages in India follow the exemplary directions set by Herwad panchayat. When urban widows remarry without facing social taboos, similarly villagers should encourage the re-marriage of young widows who may or may not have children to support.
