New Delhi:
India is the only country in world that offers prayers to goddesses with full fervour twice in a year on Navratri yet turns out to be horrific place for women with increasing number of rapes and assaults.
During Navratras there are many people who keep 9-day fast to offer their prayers while some ot on the first and the last day. The festival concludes after little girls turn into goddess and visit your home to have a meal (we call it Kanzaka in Hindi).
Girls are mostly from the age group of 5 years to 12 years. People touch their feet and take blessing for a happy life.
But amongst all there is a darker truth that lies behind and leaves no reason for which India should not be termed as the rape capital of the world.
Rape is the fourth most common crime in India. According to National Crime Records Bureau 2013 annual report, 24,923 rape cases were reported across India in 2012. Mind it! These are just the numbers which were reported, there are many which go unnoticed or people don’t report.
It is impossible for any Indian to forget the horrific rape incident that Nirbhaya failed to survive and had sparked outrage in the nation. But any lesson learnt? The answer is a big ‘No’. Just after few days a photojournalist was gangraped in Mumbai. These are big cases which can be remembered easily but there are many other cases which fail to get even a single headline.
It is not just rape that shocks nation; more bizarre thing is there are many cases which include minors in this heinous crime. And this doesn’t end here, to make it filthier some keeps on fighting with the way women should dress or talks about restricted timing, usage of mobile phones, etc.
But again this is India and we celebrate festivals with full fervour. So, Navratri will again see beautiful girls dressed like goddess who will take part in the festival and bless everyone and the rapists will have no shame in placing a bad eye on them.
Interestingly, India is the country which worships women, even had female Prime Minister and President yet women continue to face atrocities such as rape, acid throwing, dowry killings, and the forced prostitution of young girls.
