Night-long protests over doctor's murder mark Mahalaya ahead of Durga Puja
The Hindu
Protests and rituals mark Mahalaya in Kolkata and across West Bengal, demanding justice for the victim.
Protesting the rape and murder of the R.G. Kar hospital doctor, night-long demonstrations were held across West Bengal on the auspicious occasion of Mahalaya, which marks the beginning of the festive season with Durga Puja barely six days away.
While in Kolkata, the demonstrators floated lamps in the rivers and prayed for the medic's soul, in Coochbehar, a march was held in the early hours as part of the protest, termed 'Abhaya'r Tarpan'.
Hindus perform the ritual of 'tarpan' on Mahalaya in remembrance of their forefathers.
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A large number of women took part in the protests that were held at Ruby Crossing, outside the Academy of Fine Arts, Jadavpur 8B Stand, Shyambazar, Thakurpukur, VIP Road, and Dumdum Park in Kolkata.
Similar gatherings were held in Coochbehar, Malda, Canning, and Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas, Sodpur and Barasat in North 24 Parganas, and Uttarpara in Hooghly, among other districts.
"Our peaceful protests demanding justice for Abhaya (the victim's symbolic name) will continue during Devi Paksha on all four days of the festival. Goddess Durga had slayed the demon on Dashami. We also pray the demon be vanquished, and all tormentors of women and punished," said writer-activist Satabdi Das, who took part in the demonstration at Renuchhaya Mancha near the Academy of Fine Arts.
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