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Calcutta sex workers protest at ancient ritual
October 19, 2004
Sex workers in the Indian city of Calcutta are up in arms over an ancient
ritual in which earth dug from near brothels is offered as a symbol of
fertility to the Hindu goddess Durga.
Hindu priests are digging up the soil before the biggest annual festival in
West Bengal state, the Durga Puja. The festival is dedicated to the
demon-slaying goddess Durga and will be held later this week.
"We are against the ritual as it only helps in perpetuating [illegal]
prostitution," said Swapna Gayen, president of Durbar Mahila Samannay
Committee.
The committee, an organisation of sex workers, is calling for the legalisation
of their profession and the removal of the stigma attached to it.
"We are branded as prostitutes and ostracised by society. This practice only
adds insult to sex workers' injuries. How long should we bear it?" she asked.
Sex workers are holding a door-to-door campaign to rally opposition to the
ritual but priests said their criticism had no basis.
"We think the ritual is an honour to sex workers, without which the worship of
the goddess remain incomplete. The tradition goes on from time immemorial,"
said Ajoy Banerjee, a priest in Calcutta's famous Kalighat Temple.
He said the ritual honouring fertility was important because the festival
preceded the harvest in the state.
Calcutta's 60,000 sex workers have been active in voicing their rights such as
the use of condoms by clients. They have been at the forefront of a campaign
seeking to legalise prostitution in India.
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