The Myth or reality of Women Empowerment

Reflections on Meyeder Brata-katha

Abstract

In the Hindu Bengali society during the Brata performances, goddesses are worshipped by the womenfolk without a priest and they themselves recite kathas or conventional stories, written in Bengali rather than in Sanskrit. Despite the fact that these kathas have ‘no noticeable logical build-ups’ (Spivak 2001), the brota-katha is still in practice, followed and is recited in majority of the Bengali households. This paper questions the relevance and persistence of the above practice vis-a-vis contemporary modernizing forces of women empowerment, gender equality, and financial independence of women.