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Stree-Shakti In Ranchi: 12 Years Of Breaking Stereotypes, All-Woman-Group Organises Durga Puja Pandals
Hindu devotees chant prior to immersing an idol of Goddess Durga into the Yamuna river on the last day of the Durga Puja. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)
Normally, pandals organised for Durga Puja across the country are set-up by men whenever the festival is observed. A group of women have been breaking the stereotypes in Jharkhand’s Ranchi. An all-women organisation namely ‘Matri Sangha Durga Puja Samiti’ has been celebrating the Puja by organising the pandals for over 12 years now.
President of MSDPS Shipra Sahay says that she got the push from her late husband, who insisted on her organising the pandal instead of visiting them outside. In 2006, with 15 other women, Shipra started organising the pandal and there has been no turning back.
The New Indian Express has quoted Shipra as saying, “Though, it is a very small affair, involving only the people living in the locality, several outsiders also visit us just because it (the pandal) is managed and organised by women only. They also express surprise when they see women taking charge of everything in the Pandal.”
This group of women take care of everything end-to-end, from making arrangements for necessary logistics and materials, to meeting the financial requirements needed to organise. This group is breaking all barriers to ensure that there is equality in the celebration of Puja.
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