When girl replaces boy to funeral rights of mother!
| Date :29-May-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
Raipur
Raipur city witnessed a rare sight here other day as a daughter performed the last rites of her deceased mother to smash patriarchy and religious orthodoxy with one clean sweep. The Parganihas’ have been residing in Raipur since decades. Father Chandrashekhar Pargania, who was State Government employee while Additional Collector in restive Bijapur district, retired just nine months ago. The couple had three daughters. While Archana is settled in Mowa locality of state capital, youngest Neha Parganiya was studying out of Raipur.
She had recently been staying at home taking care of ailing (now deceased) Kunti Pargania, who worked as a Head Master in Avanti Bai Government School, but had opted for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) owing to her illness. As the three sisters had no brother, they grew up strong and independent. However, the other day, the most difficult questions loomed large after Kunti Pargania’s death, since according to Hindu scriptures, people can go to heaven if their last rites are performed by a son. But breaking the bastion of stereotypes and patriarchy, the Pargania family took the bold step and Neha performed her mother’s last rites with full dignity and rituals.
Prior to last rites, she also carried the mortal remains of her mother along with other family members, close relatives and friends, all the way to the local crematorium, while tears continued to rolled down her cheeks for she lost her mother, who never differentiated and differed with her or any of her sisters, in absence of any male sibling. Finally, she also lit the funeral pyre. They say a journey of thousand miles begins with a small step. For fighting religious orthodoxy, Raipur city seems to have taken that one firm small step.