The coronavirus which has affected almost everyone in the world and in India, it has now distressed the students studying in Hindu College, as college cancelled “DamDami Mai Puja” for this year.
What is “DamDami Mai Puja”?
There is a famous tree in Delhi University which is also known as Virgin Tree at Hindu College which is referred as the site for the annual Damdami Mai Puja that is celebrated every year on Valentine’s Day (February 14).
Male students of the college flock around it, believing the popular myth that “worshipping the tree on V-Day will help them fall in love within six months and lose their virginity in one year.”
Some students have raised concerns about this “misogynistic” practice, and even called for the ban on this. Covid-19 has done something good for these protesters.
As per the guidelines issued by the Delhi government, schools and colleges are now allowed to resume with strict norms to be taken care of. However, it is being noticed that DU hasn’t resumed their classes completely and the hostel at Hindu College remains closed. So, the event, which is organised by the boys’ hostel core committee, is likely to get dropped this year.
“Since the hostel is closed, elections to the hostel core committee positions could not be held. And without a committee, organising an event on campus seems impossible, especially when the college isn’t opening for everyone at the moment. Plus, it’ll be hard for the outstation hostellers to return and organise the event,” Ajay Deshwal, a B. Com student said to Hindustan Times.
“Hindu College is known for this puja! There have been many concerns raised about the event being misogynistic and the objectification attached to this tradition has also been a heated topic of discussion. Last year, a poster of actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh was put up and worshipped as Damdami Mai and Love Guru, after much chaos. As a hosteller, it’s fun to see all these preparations when on campus,” says Iba, a second-year student at Hindu College.
Well, the hopes are still alive, as some students feel that the celebrations might happen, but on a smaller scale. “You never know, some hostellers might still try to assemble in small numbers to celebrate it, in order to not break the tradition…,” says Pooja Santosh, a second-year student of the college.
