Sex products. You can now get them online!

Gone are the days when one had to travel abroad to buy sex products. Now with many portals making these products easily and legally available in the country, that too from the comforts of your home, is India finally coming out of the closet of its age-old cultural taboo?

According to a recent study by thatspersonal.com, India's first online portal which sells erotic products like edible lingerie, flavoured lubricants, gels, massage oils, aroma candles, erotic costumes, etc online, Pune stands fourth in the list of adult-product shoppers after Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The study also reveals that the number of female shoppers in Pune is much higher than male (62%).

When we asked Puneites to share their views on these products now being easily accessible, most of them said though late, it's a great thing. "I am glad people are broadening their horizons, but sometimes find it funny that we being the land of Kama Sutra, have taken so long to do something like this. Ideally, we should have been the one to start the trend," said Vicky Gogia, an automobile journalist.

"I have been thinking of gifting something 'interesting' to my wife, but was wondering how that could be possible without travelling oversees until my friend told me about this website where I could find a variety of products, that too, without having to worry about spending a bomb," said Ankita Gupta, a financial consultant.

The good thing about ordering products from a portal like thatspersonal.com is that it keeps the identity of the buyer a secret. In addition, it also gives one the option to pick up the parcels from its authorised offices, in case the customer doesn't want it delivered home.

"In India, even buying a condom from a chemist is met with sniggers and giggles; I can now buy a whole range of adult products online without feeling embarrassed! I think it's great for women too, as they can shop for adult products discreetly," said Arjun Nair, a social media manager.

When we asked women around if this could be regarded as a step towards women empowerment, Annanya Paul, a writer, said: "I'm glad these are finally available. I no more need to ask friends to 'please bring me this or that' when they travel abroad! Shopping online also puts paid to the awkwardness of buying the stuff from a store. However, 'empowered' would actually be when we can walk into a store and buy sex products without being judged."