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Breaking age-old tradition, Vrindavan widows publicly tie Rakhi to pundits, Sanskrit scholars

In a bold move to break the age-old traditions, hundreds of widows of Vrindavan and liberated manual scavenger women considered 'untouchables' publicly tied Rakhi to 50 upper caste pundits and Sanskrit scholars at the century-old Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan on Wednesday.

FP Staff August 18, 2016 16:02:21 IST
In a bold move to break the age-old traditions, hundreds of widows of Vrindavan and liberated manual scavenger women considered "untouchables" publicly tied Rakhi to 50 upper caste pundits and Sanskrit scholars at the century-old Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan on Wednesday. (Naresh Sharma/Firstpost)
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In a bold move to break the age-old traditions, hundreds of widows of Vrindavan and liberated manual scavenger women considered "untouchables" publicly tied Rakhi to 50 upper caste pundits and Sanskrit scholars at the century-old Gopinath Temple in Vrindavan on Wednesday. (Naresh Sharma/Firstpost)
It was a new dawn for hundreds of so-called "untouchable women" who defied age-old tradition to take part in Rakhshabandhan ceremony in the temple town with great enthusiasm and fervour. This initiative was taken by Sulabh International's mentor Bindeshwar Pathak who is campaigning for social equality for four decades. (Naresh Sharma/Firstpost)
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It was a new dawn for hundreds of so-called "untouchable women" who defied age-old tradition to take part in Rakhshabandhan ceremony in the temple town with great enthusiasm and fervour. This initiative was taken by Sulabh International's mentor Bindeshwar Pathak who is campaigning for social equality for four decades. (Naresh Sharma/Firstpost)
A collection of 2,000 colourful Rakhis and sweets will also be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the widows who have expressed a strong desire to meet him and urge him to ensure their all-round welfare. (Naresh Sharma/Firstpost)
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A collection of 2,000 colourful Rakhis and sweets will also be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the widows who have expressed a strong desire to meet him and urge him to ensure their all-round welfare. (Naresh Sharma/Firstpost)
Since first week of August, around 100 widows, mostly in their 80s, were engaged in making colourful Rakhis in Meera Sahabhagi and Chetan Vihar ashram to organise Rakhsha Bandhan in a massive scale. (Naresh Sharma/Firstpost)
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Since first week of August, around 100 widows, mostly in their 80s, were engaged in making colourful Rakhis in Meera Sahabhagi and Chetan Vihar ashram to organise Rakhsha Bandhan in a massive scale. (Naresh Sharma/Firstpost)
The day was indeed memorable for the widows who used to face humiliation and insult from their family members after the death of their husband. (Naresh Sharma/Firstpost)
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The day was indeed memorable for the widows who used to face humiliation and insult from their family members after the death of their husband. (Naresh Sharma/Firstpost)