Women need to step out and be more confident
Not festivals but it’s a everyday case where women are eve-teased by men. The main reason behind it is that we don’t have a open society and festivals are an excuse where men get a chance to act cheeky with women. It’s a case of sudden outburst. Take any festival for instance, we will only find men roaming around on streets while women are hiding inside their homes. This is wrong and needs to be changed. Aren’t these festivals celebrated by women too? We need to make festivals like Janmashtami, Ganesh Chathurthi andHoli more accessible to women. As a society we need to evolve and educate people so that evils like eve-teasing stop. I think bans or bringing in more police is a solution. Unless and until men don’t start respecting women, we will continue to have such unfortunate events. Women too need to become more confident and face the world.
Madhushree Datta, founder, Majlis
Even policewomen aren’t spared, so what are we!
During festivals, most men get an excuse to take leave from work, consume alcohol and a chance to misbehave with women, especially the ones who aren’t accompanied by men. Every year, during various festivals one can see hooligans roaming on the streets and teasing women. Last year, I saw few drunk men misbehaving with policewomen. If they are treated like this, one can imagine how secure are other women in the city. This needs to stop; either the authorities have to become more vigilant or declare dry days on all festivals.
Madhuri Chavan, assistant manager
Men take advantage of huge gatherings
Unfortunately, it has become a trend in our country where men abuse the purpose of celebrating festivals. Thankfully, so far, I haven’t faced any such incidents but I have heard of many such incidents from my friends. Normally a gathering for festivals involves a huge crowd and it becomes difficult for security personnel to enforce discipline. Which is why some men take advantage of the uncontrollable environment and misbehave with women. Also, during Holi, for instance, men consume bhang and loose their senses and tend to resort to rash behaviour. Vigilant and strict security at vantage points around the city at huge gatherings is important.
Hanisha Lalwani, freelance writer
Avoid strangers, spend time with family and friends
Festivals are meant to be fun and to be celebrated. Diwali is known as the festival of lights. However, a lot of people look forward to Diwali so that they can officially gamble (play cards). For them, it’s a part of their celebrations. But it varies from person to person and how they value the traditional sentiments. Festivals have become an excuse for men to misbehave with women, especially during Navratri and Holi. These two festivals give men a chance to misbehave with women. Thankfully I don’t have any bitter experiences as I celebrate with my friends and family. We should be with people who are known to us and avoid mingling with strangers.
Manjuu Rangarajan, CEO
Pure joy and connotation of festivities is lost
I have seen that during festivals people are busy making merry with not much care about tradional celebrations. For instance, Janmasthami is a day off from work for many as they don’t even know the reason behinds the celebration. The significance and pure joy of the festivals is somewhere lost. Ideally people should fast and abstain from drinks and meat but the opposite prevails. Women do become easy targets during such festivities. At the same time, a section of society follows the tradional rituals and enjoys the festival in a subtle manner.
Bhavna Manral, client servicing executive
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