Relieved of Their Veils, Rajasthani Women Open Up On 2019 Polls
For this one day women stay out till the wee hours of the morning, only to return to the veil the next morning.
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Editor: Mohammad Ibrahim
Cameraperson: Aishwarya S Iyer
It was 11:00 pm on 23 April, one week from voting for elections 2019, and women in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur had left their veils behind to adorn various characters and reclaim the streets all night.
This one day, on the occasion of Dhinga Gavar, a festival for the Gavar goddess who is a consort of Shiva, women adorn different characters and stay out comfortably till the wee hours of the morning.
Only to return to the veil the next morning. The Quint's election juggernaut joined amidst the festivity to understand what are the women's concerns and who they'll vote for. An interaction with Rekha Joshi gives us a glimpse into the lives of the women in the city.
Why don’t you have a phone that has Whatsapp?
Husband does not like it.
Why is it like that?
Don’t know. Whatever he says I do, if he says keep a simple phone I listen and keep it.
Don’t you feel bad?
No. He gives me so much freedom so I listen to him once in a while as well.
What other freedoms does he give you?
Like I have become this today (yamraj). Where I come and go is alright. If I make friends or go somewhere, it is alright. He does not check my phone calls and messages – this is the best thing, correct? So, it is alright. He does not even disallow me to go to my parents’ home. What else does a woman want?
What else does he keep you from doing?
From getting a stylish phone, and I have to veil myself. When he talks about it, he makes it about respect. So, I feel bad but I listen.
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