India’s Widows: Odisha’s Panchuka festival

Panchuka Purnima is a sacred festival in the state of Odisha, and is celebrated in the month of Kartik. A Hindu widow walks past saris hung out to dry at a dharamsala, or rest house for pilgrims, on the first day of the five-day long Panchuka festival in Bhubaneswar, in Odisha. (Source: AP)

A Hindu widow offers prayers inside a dharamsala in Bhubaneswar during Panchuka. Widows from across the state gather to perform rituals for their salvation and for the souls of their departed husbands during this auspicious festival. (Source: AP)

A widow offers prayers to the sun god in Bhubaneswar. It is a practice among Odiyas to give up non-vegetarian food such as fish, meat and egg during the entire month of Kartik. However, those who are not in a position to abstain from non-vegetarian foods during the entire month, have the option to give it up for five days beginning from Panchuka. (Source: AP)

A Hindu widow rests inside a dharamsala on the first day of the five-day long Panchuka festival in Bhubaneswar. (Source: AP)

These photos provide an insight ito the lives of the countless widows in Bhubaneswar. (Source: AP)

There is a popular proverb in Odiya which says that even the fish-hunting bird crane does not touch fish during these five days. (Source: AP)

Hindu widows in India are in a sorry state, because they are pretty much shunned by the society, and these women end up spending their time in dharamsalas like this one, and their lives revolve around one austere day after another. (Source: AP)

Hindu widows perform rituals around a tulsi plant, believed to be holy by Hindus, at a dharamsala, on the first day of the five-day long Panchuka festival in Bhubaneswar. (Source: AP)

Hindu widows perform rituals around a tulsi plant, believed to be holy by Hindus, at a dharamsala. Widows from across the state gather to perform rituals for their salvation and for the souls of their departed husbands during this auspicious festival. (Source: AP)

The life of a Hindu widow usually revolves around puja, and doing simple chores for survival. Ostracised by society, these women look at each other for support, and perform rituals for the salvation of their departed husbands. (Source: AP)