Short straw for widows

EXCELLENT article by Tash Reddy in the POST, “Lonely widows are struggling to move on”.

It’s a topic very few people will talk about, and in most homes it’s taboo. Widows are traditionally held back by religious dogmas and discriminatory rituals, and sadly cannot even offer their blessings to the future bride.

A widow is not even allowed to perform her daughter’s wedding – handing over of a bride to the groom’s family.

My big question is why are our mothers and sisters being discriminated against and shunned? Is it because they are widows – which is ultimately no fault of theirs?

The attitude in our country towards widows is suffered all over the world. What pain and agony these people go through; isn’t it sad enough losing their loved ones?

Unfortunately, society has forced these widows to become a shadow of who they were. The bubbly and funloving lady is no more.

My concern is: where is our religion taking us as a community? It is about time that we start to break away from ancient concepts and rituals, and start to look at innovative ways to embrace our people rather than shove them away. It is time to stop this unacceptable practice and give our mothers and sisters the dignity they deserve.

Hopefully POST and Tash Reddy will give us more thought-provoking articles so that it will enlighten our younger generation and it will be able to restore the kind of dignity our ladies deserve. DHAYALAN MOODLEY

Mobeni Heights