Sat Sep 27 04:35:50 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
For the 13th year, the sex worker collective Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) in Kolkata’s Sonagachi red-light district celebrated Durga Puja, a major Hindu festival. This celebration is a direct result of a 2013 Calcutta High Court order granting them the right to host their own Puja after facing exclusion and discrimination from traditional celebrations. Despite social stigma and past resistance, the sex workers have persisted in asserting their right to celebrate the festival with dignity. DMSC aims for greater recognition and rights for sex workers, even expanding Durga Puja celebrations to other districts in West Bengal.
**News Article:**
**Kolkata Sex Workers Defy Stigma, Celebrate 13th Year of Durga Puja**
**Kolkata, India – September 27, 2025** – Kolkata’s Sonagachi, one of Asia’s largest red-light districts, is buzzing with festivity as the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), a collective of over 40,000 sex workers, marks its 13th annual Durga Puja celebration. The event, inaugurated by MLA Madan Mitra, stands as a powerful statement against societal prejudice and a testament to the collective’s ongoing fight for recognition and rights.
For years, sex workers in Sonagachi faced exclusion from traditional Durga Puja celebrations despite the common practice of using soil from their district to create the idols. This blatant hypocrisy spurred DMSC to seek legal recourse. In 2013, they successfully petitioned the Calcutta High Court for the right to organize their own Durga Puja, a landmark victory against deeply ingrained social taboos.
“Durga Puja is for everyone,” stated a sex worker, requesting anonymity. “They take the soil from our courtyard to make their idols, but do not allow us in the same Durga Pujas. Why this discrimination?”
The initial years were met with resistance and even violence from some locals who deemed the celebrations “impure.” However, DMSC persevered, transforming their section of Sonagachi into a vibrant hub of color, music, and religious ritual.
“I am a worker; you are a worker,” declared Mr. Mitra during the inauguration. “Every single person works for money. Then why do we criticize sex workers for their work? They are working with dignity, not stealing money from anyone.”
Bishakha Laskar, secretary of DMSC, emphasized that the Durga Puja is a stepping stone towards achieving broader recognition and workers’ rights under Indian law. The organization plans to expand its Durga Puja celebrations to other districts across West Bengal, including Durgapur, Asansol, Bishnupur, and Alipurduar, ensuring that its members can participate in the festivities with the respect they deserve. This expansion aims to challenge discrimination and create inclusive spaces for celebration across the state.
The DMSC remains committed to advocating for the rights and dignity of sex workers, striving for a future where they are treated as equal members of society.
First Piper 