Deoria (UP), July 17 -- In eastern Uttar Pradesh's Deoria, Gorakhpur, and Kushinagar, as well as some districts in neighboring Bihar, women of the Gachhawa community devoutly follow a centuries-old, unique tradition of living as widows from May to July for the well-being of their husbands.
Indeed, men of the Gachhawa community work as toddy tappers for three months of the year, from May to July. During this time, there is a risk of misfortune, so their wives live as widows.
The work of tapping toddy from palm trees is considered extremely risky.
Many times, lives are lost while tapping toddy from straight palm trees over fifty feet high.
During the toddy tapping season, women from this community pledge their marital mementos at the Tark...