Shunned Widows Flock to City to Die.

[Cosmic]

VRINDAVAN, India (CNN) -- Ostracized by society, India's widows flock to the holy city of Vrindavan waiting to die. They are found on side streets, hunched over with walking canes, their heads shaved and their pain etched by hundreds of deep wrinkles in their faces.

These Hindu widows, the poorest of the poor, are shunned from society when their husbands die, not for religious reasons, but because of tradition -- and because they're seen as a financial drain on their families.

They cannot remarry. They must not wear jewelry. They are forced to shave their heads and typically wear white. Even their shadows are considered bad luck.

Hindus have long believed that death in Vrindavan will free them from the cycle of life and death. For widows, they hope death will save them from being condemned to such a life again. Watch how some widows are rebelling »

"Does it feel good?" says 70-year-old Rada Rani Biswas. "Now I have to loiter just for a bite to eat."

Biswas speaks with a strong voice, but her spirit is broken. When her husband of 50 years died, she was instantly ostracized by all those she thought loved her, including her son.

"My son tells me: 'You have grown old. Now who is going to feed you? Go away,' " she says, her eyes filling with tears. "What do I do? My pain had no limit."

As she speaks, she squats in front of one of Vrindavan's temples, her life reduced to begging for scraps of food.

There are an estimated 40 million widows in India, the least fortunate of them shunned and stripped of the life they lived when they were married.

Go here for the rest: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/07/05/damon.india.widows/index.html

 

[Fred_Fury]

damn dirtyleggers

 

[KALEL114]

Wow, just wow. You learn something new everyday about different cultures.

 

[Sensi]

This is so sad. Where is the love in people's hearts?

 

[SolidSnakeMGS]

I know we shouldn't condemn or criticize other cultures, but when you read **** like this, you can't help but to think how backwards and stupid some things are. All cultures have their bad sides, like extreme Islamics, boarder jumping Mexicans, thug gangsta blacks, etc.

 

[Goddessreicho]

I know we shouldn't condemn or criticize other cultures, but when you read **** like this, you can't help but to think how backwards and stupid some things are. All cultures have their bad sides, like extreme Islamics, boarder jumping Mexicans, thug gangsta blacks, etc.

Western European colonial imperialism... Yep, all terrible ideas in the long run. Somebody pure of heart and flawless should wag a finger at them. Or get some celebrities to campaign for them. That usually does the trick.

BONO CHEADLE AND FRIENDS TO THE RESCUE!

 

[SWAT]

I think we should use the same method...

 

[Jack Rabbit]

Great tradition.

 

[SLVRSR4]

they do what they feel is best

 

[odiin]

Serves them right. They should have died before their husbands did. Women need to learn their place.

 

[Holly]

Serves them right. They should have died before their husbands did. Women need to learn their place.

you need to be neutered.

 

[CConn]

Western Europe/North America (except Mexico)/Australia/Japan > World.

 

[Showtime]

Wow that is a very interesting story.

 

[The Lizard]

We must respect this countries' particular tradition, just as we do other "different" traditions like female circumcision...

Oh, wait....

 

[ServantofAllah]

Say hello to third world countries.

 

[Wolfwood]

I have a few Indian friends and I'm going to have to ask them about this, because they all seem so family oriented, they take care of each other and I know there are a few widows in the family. They weren't raised in America either, they've only been in the country for 10 years. I wonder how hey feel about all this.

 

[Manic]

This doesn't exactly strike me as a huge cultural tradition. It looks like these women were selfishly abandoned simply because their families didn't think they could afford to feed them. I bet if these were rich Indian families, those women would still be at home.

 

[Fred_Fury]

They should burry the widows along with their dead husbands.