Disha Patani is the Damdami Mai in DU

Come Valentine’s Day and the Damdami Mai Pooja (Virgin Tree worship) at Hindu College, Delhi University will have a poster of Disha Patani put up. The tree that has been a symbol of virginity for years, will be a spot that spreads safe sex awareness too.

Every year on V-Day, some DU students shortlist a hot Bollywood female actor, and worship her as the Damdami Mai. For worship, the tree is decorated with balloons, strings and condoms, to seek blessings of the love deity. Why is it important for students? It’s believed that if you are part of the tradition of Virgin Tree Worship, your increase your chances of scoring a date and finding a partner of your dreams (and losing your virginity in the process).

This year the shortlisted goddess is Disha Patani. The choice, however, wasn’t easy for students. Sultan Miftahul Haque, Hindu College’s hostel president says, “We selected Disha Patani this year because she is beautiful, sexy and has been very successful in the past year. We always zero down a personality who has been the talk of that year and Disha seemed like an obvious choice.”

The place that celebrates virginity will not only be about worshipping a Bollywood celeb. This year the pooja will also focus on safe sex awareness and the hostellers want to make it clear that the condom decorations are not a sign of vulgarity. “Sex awareness is the need of the hour and we want to promote safe sex among all the people present at the pooja. We use condoms as decorations, but it is not for fun. It’s a way of showing the masses that condoms are not a taboo and are a necessary tool for safe sex. We hope our message reaches everyone,” adds Sultan.

STUDENTS OF HINDU COLLEGE WILL PUT UP A POSTER OF DISHA PATANI. THE TREE THAT HAS BEEN A SYMBOL OF VIRGINITY FOR YEARS, WILL BE A SPOT THAT SPREADS SAFE SEX AWARENESS

PHOTO: JAFAR KHAN / FOTOCORP

HT PHOTO Pictures from a previous celebration at Hindu College