Do these people, who burnt ‘Mangalsutra’, know the reasons, purpose and science of why married women wear a Mangalsutra ? If they would have known all these things, they would have not take such foolish steps ! – Editor, HJS
Kochi : Protesting against moral policing and religious strictures against expression of love, a cultural group burnt a symbolic ‘Thali’ ( mangalsutra) at nearby Fort Kochi.
The protest by activists of ‘Njattuvela’ cultural workers forum, took place at Fort Kochi yesterday, amidst heavy police presence.
About 100 activists, including women, took out a procession from Fort Kochi bus stand and gathered at the Vasco da Gama square where a huge ‘mangalsutra’ made of paper and firecrackers stuffed in it, was burnt
Swapnesh Nanu, secretary of the forum said the event was held to ‘free love from the shackles of institutionalisation’.
“Love is not something which can be confined in the institution of heterosexual marriage, made holy and perfect by the ‘thali’, an activist said. It can also happen between same genders and even outside marriage.
This protest comes close on the heels of the ‘Kiss of Love’, a kissing agitation launched by some activists against moral policing in November last year in various parts of Kerala which later spread to other states.
Source : TOI