Kolkata

Sex workers from Kolkata’s Sonagachi, the largest red-light district in India, have refused to provide soil from their courtyards for Durga Puja idols this year. This protest stems from the recent rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital. Traditionally, soil from brothels is mixed with clay for making idols, as it is considered sacred. The Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, an organization representing the sex workers, has said that this year’s refusal is to protest the lack of justice for rape victims. They have also been protesting with rallies, demanding better legal protections for their profession. Meanwhile, some Durga Puja committees in Kolkata have declined state government donations for the festival.