‘HINDU HUMARE AAP KA, NAHIN KISI KE BAAP KA’
A tussle between some students of Hindu College wishing to continue the Virgin Tree puja and those opposing it broke out at the college on Valentine’s Day
The famous Damdami Mai Puja at Delhi University’s Hindu College — a tradition where students worship the college’s famous Virgin Tree, hoping to find love and lose their virginity by praying to the poster of a female celebrity — has been going on for decades on Valentine’s Day. But unlike the previous years, this time, the puja saw a whole new revolution come up. Just as the students of the college geared up to start the puja, members of the student wing of women’s collective Pinjra Tod, and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), stormed the gates of the college demanding that the tradition be banned.
‘HINDU BOYS HOSTEL UNION KHABARDAR, MAHILAYEIN HAIN TAIYAR’
Cries of ‘Hum ko chahiye aazadi/chheen ke lenge aazadi/ arrey khap se aazadi/pitrisatta se aazadi’ resounded in the college as the protesting students approached the iconic venue — the Virgin Tree near the academic block of the college. They further went, “Hindu Boys Hostel Union khabardar/mahilayein hain taiyar/virgin ki puja nahi chalegi/hum yeh puja nahi sahenge.” The Union boys asked the protesters, “Kis cheez ke liye hain mahilayein tayyar?” They were confused why the protest was still happening despite having incorporated a suggested change in the lyrics of the aarti.
THE MODIFICATIONS
College students who had gathered to carry out the ritual had modifications with them — instead of just a Damdami Mai (Sara Ali Khan this year), they had included posters of Love Guru — a male counterpart for those hoping to find love among men (Prabhas) — and a celebrity couple — to celebrate successful relationships (Anushka Sharma-Virat Kohli). The ‘pandit’, a first year student, was all set to mouth the modified aarti — but for the mayhem that ensued.
‘OUR MOM IS VERY PROGRESSIVE’
The students who had gathered to be part of this college ritual quickly formed a human chain around the tree. But none of the sides was ready to back down. The tree, decorated with condoms, balloons and decorative strings, turned the centre of a battle between the two sides. As the protesters shouted ‘Shame, Shame, Shame’, one of them managed to burst the condoms and balloons and cheers filled the campus. “This is a patriarchal practice that objectifies women. Virginity khoni hai to himmat dikhao aur kisi ko approach karo, ped ki puja karke kuchh nahi hoga,” said Shrishti Kothari, a student who was part of the protesting group. “Ek banai hui devi ki puja karte hai aur ‘maa’ bulaane ke baad apni virginity ke liye madad maangte hain. Apni maa se koi aisi cheez kehta hai kya?” she added. To this an onlooker mumbled, “Kyon? Maa se discuss nahi kar saktey kya? Our mom is very progressive, unlike yours!”
COME RAIN OR SHINE...
The students of the union went around the building and came back with dhols. “Hindu humaare aap ka, nahin kisi ke baap ka” they shouted. Down came rain and hail, but nothing was going to dampen the puja supporters. They decided to move the venue to the boys’ hostel. However, before this could happen, a fight broke out as student from both groups started climbing the tree — the union students trying to protect it, and the protesters trying to take the posters down.
THAPPAD SE DARR?
There was dhakka-mukki and kheencha-taani. We spotted a few girls from the protesting group throwing slaps around — to land on whoever was trying to push them out. “Rok ke dikha dein yeh log agar dum hai. Halka sa pakad lo ya dhakka de do toh ‘Me Too, Me Too’ chillane lag jaati hain yeh ladkiyan. Khud agar vishwas nahin hai puja main to at least jinko hai unhe to manane do. Na yeh khud is college ke hain, na college walon ko kuch karne de rahe hai. Puja toh aaj ho ke rahegi,” said Vikram Shokeen, a student in support of the puja.
The protesting group celebrated with shreds of the poster as the union shifted the celebrations to the hostel area which had life-size posters of actors Sara Ali Khan and Prabhas, adorning the entry. Dhols played again, and boys danced, and some even threw gulaal in the air.