Kolkata's Sonagachi inaugurates Durga Puja, marks 14 years of defying stigma - Kolkata - Sonagachi, India's largest red light area in Kolkata, inaugurated its 14th Durga Puja on Wednesday amid continued opposition from local people. Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), collective of sex workers, continues its struggle for rights in face of persistent social stigma.
"People always thought sex workers are sub-humans, why do they need to celebrate Durga Puja? Even to get this much space we had to go to the High Court. But problems are far from over, even now locals find new problems with our puja every year," Bishakha Laskar, secretary of DMSC, told The Hindu during inauguration ceremony. She said that on day of inauguration some local people alleged that their stage was bigger than permitted and tried to create scuffle.
Neither local people nor neighbourhood clubs were willing to cooperate with them. She said that sex workers were often judged and looked down upon when they visited other pujas, so they wanted to start their own, despite facing considerable resistance. "We organise these events because it is also our safe space. But, one day we hope to become part of mainstream so that we do not need separate pujas for marginalised people like us," Ismail, son of sex worker, said during ceremony.
Read more - Puja Gets Political Colours
Guest at event highlighted that society cannot progress if they do not offer rights to sex workers and treat them as equal citizens. Organisers said number of participants and guests had increased in recent years. Several MLAs, Ministers, social activists, college students, and residents now visit puja to pay respects, indicating wind of change.
Interestingly, Durga idol remains incomplete without little clay from courtyard of sex workers. Kumartuli, city's prominent potters' colony, is stone's throw away from Sonagachi, and every year artisans traditionally collect clay from there to make idols. Yet, women whose courtyards contribute to their making have often felt unwelcome at pujas where idols are worshipped.
For India, Sonagachi Puja is more than religious event - it is claim to citizenship. Supreme Court in Budhadev Karmaskar case said sex work is profession, sex workers have dignity under Article 21. But social stigma persists, police harassment continues, and children of sex workers face discrimination in schools.
Read more - Discipline Is Not Desire
14 years of Puja shows agency, not victimhood. If state cannot give rights, community creates space.
Tags: #Sonagachi #DurgaPuja #Kolkata #SexWorkers #DMSC #Stigma #BudhadevKarmaskar #Article21 #Kumartuli #Inclusion