The idol of Goddess Durga wears a gold mask, and bears thermal gun, syringe, and other medical supplies in her hands.

“I cannot change the past, but in future, I will be more careful and do my research,” wrote Cardi B.

It is problematic to assume that women need to be protected and revered because they can be elevated to a Devi like status.

We are not indestructible devis, we’re human. Why must we be imposed with a roadside attack to prove that we’re capable of taking care of ourselves?

Will another Durga Puja and reverence of womanhood for nine days reduce the disrespect and crime committed against women? Let us celebrate Durga puja with great enthusiasm and also mean it. 

Do we respect women in daily lives as much as we venerate Goddess Durga? Do we allow a woman to take lead in house, office or any big decisions of life? A feminist lens to the festive season.

The festival reminds us of the inception of women’s agency and power in the history dominated by patriarchal culture and narrative.

Sharad Navratri is considered one of the most divine and powerful festival of Hindu religion. It is believed that Goddess Durga descends on the earth on the first day of Navratri and stays with her devotees for nine days.

“My mantra is to ignore the negativity,” Nusrat Jahan had earlier said about online bullying.

I’m ‘Durga’, which means I have all the necessary ‘weapons’ and now I can fight. I’m strong, intelligent, worthy, passionate, can look at things rationally, be decisive, solve my problems objectively, at the same time fight my battles fearlessly.