V-Day adhoora sans Damdami Mai puja?
For decades, the ritual of Damdami Mai aka Virgin Tree puja at Hindu College, the debate on it being misogynistic as well as protests to put an end to the practice have formed a major part of Valentine’s Day (February 14) celebrations in Delhi University’s North Campus. This Virgin Tree is famous for being worshipped by students of the college, who put up a poster of a popular female film actor or a combo of male (Love Guru) and female actor, in the hope of finding true love and losing their virginity! But, since Covid-19 and the first lockdown, this tradition was discontinued. And this year too, the puja won’t take place, as per youngsters on campus.
“In the last V-Day puja, celebrity couple Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli were chosen and worshipped,” informs Sukriti Aggarwal, an alumna of Economics (Hons), who graduated in 2022. She shares, “I was in my first year then and saw how it was a full spectacle.”
Students inform that the annual
It (virgin tree puja) is such a misogynistic practice. Good that it’s not happening. JAHANAVI MANDIA, Hindu College
ritual has been put on hold as the hostel that houses the tree has been closed for renovation. This has dashed the hopes of those who wanted to understand what the hype is all about, having heard about it from seniors and peers over the years. “Bas yehi suna hai humne ab tak ki kaise hoti thi yeh puja,” says Arpita Agarwal, a finalyear BCom (Hons) student at the college. Sharing how the tree would earlier be decorated with condoms and balloons, she adds, “These activities have always been a part of the Hindu College experience. Excitement thi... but ab Valentine’s Day toh adhoora reh gaya college mein.”
But, there are also those like Jahanavi Mandia, another college alumna, who consider it good riddance that the “misogynistic practice” is not taking place this year. Mandia, who was a part of the college’s Women Development Cell (WDC) during her DU days, says: “It’s such a misogynistic practice. The WDC protested to get rid of this thing.”
Earlier, members of the Pinjra Tod collective had also protested against the activity, saying worshipping a female actor in the hopes of losing virginity and parading condoms was a sexist act and openly portrayed sexual activity. “We can’t claim that it was our protest that cancelled this puja, but good that it’s not happening now,” adds Mandia, who graduated in 2022.