A Pune-based woman who refused to take a ‘virginity test’ before marriage was allegedly boycotted by her community from participating in the annual dandiya celebrations on Monday.
The woman has now approached the Pimpri police station and filed a complaint against eight people with the help of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS). The police has registered a case under the Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016.
The woman, a member of the Kanjarbat community, had opposed the age-old tradition of undergoing a virginity test before marriage. Her husband had stood by her during this time, but the duo faced a social boycott by community members for opposing the community’s ‘tradition.’
However, the couple tied the knot in presence of police officials in May this year.
But just when she thought that the opposition to her from the community has mellowed down, she had to face the ire of the community members again on Monday.
While speaking to DNA, the woman said that the event started normally. “Initially, everything was normal and I was dancing for 20 minutes, but then the organizers turned the music off. My mother then came to me and asked me to come home, saying that the organizers were angry with my presence,” she said.
The woman stood her ground, following which the organizers said that the event had been cancelled. “They said that only boys would be part of the festivities. I then relented and went home. As soon as I left, the celebrations started again,” she said.
Nandini Jadhav, a member of MANS has condemned the incident. “They are celebrating a festival of Goddess but they are not ready to give any respect to a woman who is not at all wrong. It shows the double standards of these people. Unless some strict action is taken against the culprits who socially boycott other people, such practices will not stop,” Jadhav said.
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