States » NorthPosted at: Nov 6 2026 9:07PM


Vrindavan widows celebrate Diwali at Gopinath Temple in Festival of Inclusion

Vrindavan, Nov 6 (UNI) Hundreds of widows from Vrindavan, who till the recent past were barred from religious festivities, illuminated the historic Gopinath Temple as they took part in a special Diwali celebration on Friday. The event was organised by Sulabh International as part of its initiative to bring widowed mothers into the mainstream of society and restore their dignity.
For generations in India, widows were considered "inauspicious" and excluded from festivals and auspicious occasions. Initiatives like this seek to break that social stigma and ensure their rightful participation in cultural life.
Thousands of mothers, mostly from West Bengal, have been living in Vrindavan for decades and were not allowed to take part in rituals, till Sulabh International founder Late Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak extended them a helping hand.
However, in recent years, winds of change have begun to blow through these sacred towns.
The celebration at the Gopinath Temple marked not just the festival of lights, but also a symbolic illumination of hope, dignity, and inclusion for these women, said Nitya Pathak, Executive Convenor of Sulabh International.
A large number of widowed mothers living in various shelter homes gathered at the historic 500-year-old Gopinath Temple, lit colourful diyas and celebrated Diwali with fervour.
One of the widowed mothers, Chavi Dasi, said, "Motivated by the series of revolutionary initiatives, widowed mothers are now happy and enjoying their stay in the city of Lord Krishna."
Sulabh International has been looking after hundreds of mothers living in various ashrams in Vrindavan and Varanasi since 2012.
It may be mentioned here that in the light of the Supreme Court's directives, Sulabh takes care of widowed women living in various ashrams.
UNI MBD RN
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