Vrindavan - the Indian city where widows go to die

Widows are believed to bring bad luck in conservative families The holy Indian city of Vrindavan, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, has become a magnet for widows. After being abandoned by their families , the women flock to the town in their thousands. But most end up living a life of poverty and seclusion.
70-year-old Parvati Devi struggles to walk with her wooden stick. Still, she manages to make it in the nick of time to the shelter for her evening meal, one of the two she gets each day. For the last eight years this frail-looking widow, who often has to beg for a living, has made city of Vrindavan her home after being abandoned by her family.
"I was thrown out of the house after my husband died. The family members thought I would bring bad luck. It was destiny that brought me here and I will die here in this holy town," she says.
"I used to live and beg on the streets when I came here almost ten years ago. However, I was lucky to find room in a shelter for widows. At least I can get one square meal a day," says Sominder.

Many widows end up destitute

Like Parvati, Rani Sominder, a 65-year-old widow, has made Vrindavan her home. She was abandoned by her family as she was considered a burden.
This central pilgrimage town, believed to be the birthplace of Hindu deity Krishna, has more than 4000 temples. An estimated 20,000 of the almost 60,000 inhabitants are widows.
Over the years, Vrindavan has become a magnet for these women. The city is full of dingy guest houses, shelters, and cramped living spaces where impoverished and neglected widows come to try to eke out an existence until their death. Despite their advanced age, many widows cook their own meals and clean their own clothes and utensils.
"My family knows that I lead a pitiable life here, but that doesn't seem to bother them. I have to come to terms with the fact that I will die here," says Janaki Jha. She too was forced to turn to begging to survive. At times she spends much of the day singing devotional songs in exchange for a hot meal and a few rupees.

Widows in Vrindavan face poverty and destitution

Superstitious relatives claim widows bring misfortune and blame them for their husbands' death. Many women end up destitute.
In the last three years several charities have begun operating in the town and a large number of widows are gradually being taken into their care.
India's Supreme Court has ordered government and civic agencies to improve the lives of women in Vrindavan after media reports of their deplorable living conditions.  The Uttar Pradesh government has now appointed a panel to collect data on the socio-economic conditions. Prabhal Kumar, who oversees the functioning of some charities, says the influx of widows has been increasing with every passing year.
"They have nowhere to go and want to spend the last years of their lives in the service of God. They have a hard life and we try our best to minimize their sufferings," Kumar said.
India has an estimated 40 million widows,  approximately 10 per cent of the country's female population.
Source: Deutche Welle