Sex and religiosity!

Today's Hindustan Times reports that Pune apparently goes on a sex overdrive during Ganesh Chaturthi. This is borne out by sale of condoms through the Govt channels. The reasons for as stated being
1. A lot many more prostitutes are in town
2. Couples out in the city end up making out more often as they're away from the prying eyes of parents

A similar thing occurs during Navratri in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Dandiya raas and Raas Leela seem to be not so strange bedfellows.

It's interesting to note that 'religious' festivals which in Hindu mythlogy are ideally associated with chastity, purity of the mind and soul should be in fact doing the opposite. I know that its unfair to blame the festival but then the conditions created by the festival are probably what drive licentious behaviour.

I don't recommend trying to curb this behaviour, but its up to the Govt to use this fact constructively. Social messages related to safe sex or even condom vending machines can be mandated at major Ganpati pandals (can you imagine the uproar that will cause!) Pandals which voluntarily spread these social messages can be commended.

More ideas on what to do are welcome!

Comments

Sharan Sharma said…
> social messages related to safe sex or even condom vending machines can be mandated at major Ganpati pandals

Nahin Ajith sir...i feel that'll just be reinforcing this behavior and be cultually inappropriate. Again, not that i am being fuddy-duddy here but using this occasion specially to talk about safe sex is not something i'm comfortable with...

Especially because like you pointed out:
> ...goes on a sex overdrive during Ganesh Chaturthi. This is borne out by sale of condoms through the Govt channels.

Which means, anyway, people are conscious of safe sexual practices, isn't it?

In media terms, i think this is one place 'Recency' is not a good idea from a cultural standpoint - i recommend flighting :) - Round the year awareness programmes
August 28, 2006 7:39 am
The In-Depth Blog said…
Definitely, there is no point trying to curb such behaviours, but creating awareness at the grassroot levels does make sense. Sharan's point about year-round awareness programs is also meaningful. However, many such awareness programs are running and their efficacy is, at best, average. Tapping occassions like festivals makes a lot of sense because a large part of your target audience is directly accessible for the message. Moreover, the ignorant is more likely to attentively listen/see such messages at a religious gathering since he/she might perceive it as a part of religious discourse and will digest the message better because of the forum where it is being delivered.

But, yes, even attempting something like this will cause a huge, huge uproar.
August 28, 2006 1:45 pm
Ajith said…
My opinion was that you're providing the product when awareness is heightened or closest to usage occasion as they call it....in fact Sharan for all you know, the Govt channels might be seeing an upsurge driven by the same guys buying more or maybe there is an upsurge but in real terms the govt channel is still able to service only a small x% of the population (given distribution constraints etc). So the additional channel might just do the trick.....
August 28, 2006 5:21 pm
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