As the festive season of Durga Puja approaches, the entire city gears up to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. The streets are adorned with vibrant decorations, pandals are erected in every nook and corner, and people, irrespective of their backgrounds, come together to revel in the grandeur of the occasion. But while the city worships Goddess Durga, the embodiment of power and strength, a striking and unsettling irony continues to shadow the celebrations—many women face harassment and abuse in the very spaces meant for worship.
ALSO READ: Traffic Congestion, Inadequate Parking Spaces Likely To Mar Guwahati Durga Puja
The contradiction is disturbing: Men who worship the Goddess with deep reverence often fail to extend the same respect to the women around them. While celebrations continue late into the night, for many women, the joy of participating in the festivities is marred by fears of being harassed or groped in crowded areas. The question remains: Are the safety measures in place during Durga Puja sufficient to protect women and ensure their freedom to celebrate without fear?
In recent years, the number of complaints related to harassment during Durga Puja celebrations has surged. Crowded spaces, late-night celebrations, and a festive fervour can sometimes create an environment where women become vulnerable to inappropriate behaviour. The sheer volume of people moving through the streets and pandals makes it easier for perpetrators to hide within the crowd, leaving victims helpless and often without a means of seeking immediate assistance.
The most troubling aspect of these incidents is that they occur in the very spaces meant to celebrate the feminine divine. Durga, revered as the protector and destroyer of evil, is at the centre of the festival. Yet, for many women attending the celebrations, the festive joy is tinged with apprehension.
Talking to GPlus, Riya, a college student said, “Earlier in 2023, I was excited to visit the pandals with my friends, but in one of the crowded pandals, I was inappropriately touched by someone. I did not even have the time to react because there were so many people around. It ruined the whole experience for me.”
Upon recognising the rising concerns, authorities have taken a few measures to ensure that women feel safe while participating in Durga Puja celebrations. Talking to GPlus, a senior official from the Commissioner of Police's office outlined the comprehensive safety strategy that will be enforced during this year’s celebrations.
“There will be patrolling in each area, more vigilance teams, and volunteers present in all the pandals,” the official confirmed. The police force, in collaboration with local puja committees, is taking several steps to ensure that security is tight and that women can celebrate without fear of harassment or abuse.
One of the most immediate actions taken is to increase the presence of police officers in crowded areas. There will be more patrolling units on the ground, especially around busy pandals and key celebration zones. In addition, plainclothes police officers will be deployed in and around the main pandals to monitor the crowd for any inappropriate behaviour.
The installation of CCTV cameras in and around pandals has been made mandatory this year. “The cameras will act as both a deterrent and a tool for post-incident investigations,” the police official said. With real-time monitoring in place, authorities hope to quickly respond to any incidents of harassment and ensure that those responsible are caught.
To further enhance safety, local committees have been instructed to deploy volunteers in every pandal. These volunteers, trained by the police, will assist in crowd management, ensure that the movement of people remains orderly, and will be stationed at strategic points to offer assistance to women or anyone in need. Volunteers will also be responsible for guiding people to the help desks that are set up within the pandals for immediate support.
Each pandal is required to set up a 24-hour help desk that will offer assistance to visitors. Women can approach these help desks for support in case of any incidents or emergencies. The help desks will be staffed by volunteers as well as police personnel, ensuring that victims can file complaints immediately and receive the help they need.
Talking to GPlus, a senior member of one of the city’s oldest Durga Puja committees said, “The pandal committees must ensure that there is adequate lighting, especially in areas leading to and from the pandals, so that women do not have to walk through dark, desolate spaces." He added that committees are also tasked with ensuring that the volunteers they recruit are properly trained in handling crowd and responding to emergencies.
On October 3, the Jharkhand High Court directed the district administration to deploy an adequate number of women constables during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations in the state capital to ensure the safety and security of women. However, authorities in Guwahati have yet to announce whether similar measures will be implemented in the city, leaving many concerned about the level of safety precautions that will be in place during the festivities.
Durga Puja is meant to be a time of joy, celebration, and unity. For women, however, the festival can sometimes be marred by fear of harassment and abuse.