Now, Sumangalis will vow on New Year’s

MANGALORE: Veteran Congress leader B Janardhana Poojary is taking his social reforms agenda to the next level. After making wife Malathi take a vow that she would not discard any of her marriage symbols after his death, in front of the presiding deity of Sri Kshetra Kudroli, on Diwali, Poojary on Saturday said he would organize a similar gathering of around 5,000 ‘sumangalis’ at the Kshetra on New Year’s Day.
Poojary’s social reforms initiative began with striving to provide a respectable life for widows by giving them pride of place at Mangalore Dasara celebrations held at Sri Kshetra Kudroli. He followed it up by getting ‘sumangalis’ (married women whose husbands are alive) to vow that they would not lead a life of reclusive widows in case their husbands died, nor would they shed any symbol of their marriage – mangalsutra, kumkum, bangles and flower.
“A special chandika homa will be performed on January 1 at the Sri Kshetra where all these sumangalis would participate,” he said, adding, “This is voluntary.” The participating women would perform aarti to presiding deity, and be given the honour of pulling silver chariot on the temple precincts.
“Kshetra will give them major items used by married women including a saree, blouse piece, six bangles, one rupee coin, jasmine and kumkum,” he said. “A thaali (tied to a woman),” Poojary said, “represents eternal commitment between husband and wife to lead their lives together, and (this) should not end with the death of the husband.” The thaali will remind ‘respectable women’ (referring to widows) that their husbands are with them emotionally though not physically and is representative of the protection that husbands commit to provide their wives through their life, he said.
The temple management has received overwhelming calls of support to the social initiative, Poojary said, adding, “People have come forward to donate sarees and other materials.” Urging ‘sumangalis’ interested in participating in the January 1 event to register their names in advance, Poojary said they could call up the temple office on 0824-2495740, 2494040.
“No husband will oppose this gesture of giving their wives honourable life,” he said.