Why Vrindavan is city of widows?

Vrindavan is also known as the “city of widows” due to the large number of widows who move into the town and surrounding area after losing their husbands. There are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 widows. The widows come from states of west Bengal, Assam and Odisha.

Which city is known as city of widows?

Vrindavan
But Vrindavan has its darker, less-loving side – it is known as “the city of widows”. Spend a little while observing the pilgrims coming in and out of the temples and you see these widows – usually quite elderly women – dressed in simple white and often begging.

Why are widows shunned in India?

Many communities in India still shun widows and they are abandoned by their families due to superstition. The city, which is considered holy by Hindus, has become known as the ‘City of Widows’. “I had to sleep on the street as even my family abandoned me after my husband’s death.

Who started the system of ashram for widow?

It is believed that widows have gathered in the city since Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 16th-century Bengali social reformer, brought a group of them there to escape from suttee, a now-banned practice in which Hindu widows immolated themselves on their husbands’ funeral pyres.

Why did Krishna moved from Gokul to Vrindavan?

Gokul was full of demons sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna. That’s why the whole village shifted overnight to Brindavan, the forest of basil (Tulasi) leaves. But Lord Krishna turned even the nature to culture.

How many years did Krishna lived in Vrindavan?

125 years
Lord Krishna lived for 125 years.

What is the significance of Vrindavan?

The holy town of Vrindavan, near Mathura is an important pilgrimage hub in Braj region that attracts an estimated 5,00,000 pilgrims every year. This is the place where Lord Krishna is believed to have spent his childhood. The name of Vrindavan comes from words ‘vrinda’, which means basil, and ‘van’ meaning forest.

How many temples are in Vrindavan?

The existence of more than 5,000 temples dedicated solely to Lord Krishna and his love for Radha ensures that millions of devotees visit these on pilgrimages every year. There are also a number of festivals that are organized by the temples of Mathura Vrindavan annually.

Why do widows in India wear white?

In Hinduism, white is considered the colour of mourning and is often the colour one wears to a funeral or memorial service. In parts of north and central India, it is believed that a widow needs to be in a constant state of mourning once her husband dies.

Why do widows shave their heads?

This ritual is regionally found in India among male mourners, who shave their heads as a sign of bereavement. Until a few decades ago, many Hindu communities, especially the upper castes, forced widows to undergo the ritual of tonsure and shun good clothes and ornaments, in order to make them unattractive to men.

What happened to widows in India?

As stated under the provisions of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, widows who choose to remarry still have a right on their deceased husband’s property. She is grouped under Class –I heirs of her deceased husband and shall have the right to inherit.