Shunned by society, widows flock to city to die

[Cowperson]

A rather disturbing custom in India.

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.

Hindu's 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.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapc...ows/index.html

Cowperson

[Alana Flames]

The world can be a very sad place.

[Flames09]

I watched a movie on this called 'Water' ... and it's very, very sad.

[habernac]

there are a lot of things about India that are effed up. Most of them have something to do with superstition or the caste system.

[Resolute 14]

Makes the paperwork a lot easier, I suppose.

He's not from Edmonton, is he?

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by fotze

I know this indian guy who is marrying this chick who has the same last name as him. How screwed up is that?

Depends on the last name, it's probably like a Smith marrying a Smith. Or a Chan marrying a Chan. No big deal really.

Just for fun, I'm going to guess the last name is Grewal.

[Knut]

or PAtel

[sec304]

Originally Posted by Hesla

or PAtel

yeah it's definitley Patel!!! They are the "Lee's" of India

[calf]

nm................

[Muta]

Originally Posted by fotze

I know this indian guy who is marrying this chick who has the same last name as him. How screwed up is that?

His sister?

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Flames09

I watched a movie on this called 'Water' ... and it's very, very sad.

Was that the one where the girls go down to a well, I'm not sure where but indoors. There was an old bag cursing worse than a trucker to a girl that was about 7.
If so, it was very sad, the part of it I saw. I think India is pretty fk'd up when it comes to their caste system. etc.