Aiming to shun the old custom of ostracising widows from important public gatherings, two widows from a Vrindavan ashram in Uttar Pradesh were part of a delegation who attended the Montier - en - der photo exhibition - - one of the biggest in Europe.
Ninety three - year - old Manu Ghosh and 70 - year - old Gaurvani Sheel living in Meerasahabhagini ashram in Vrindavan attended the exhibition in France as part of an initiative to socially empower widows by internationally known NGO Sulabh International.
The exhibition was also attended by Sulabh International's founder Bindeshwar Pathak.
On her return to India, Ghosh told IANS: "Such trips are not just a foreign trip for us.
It's kind of attaining due respect at an international platform.
I got a chance to represent thousands of widows of Vrindavan and Varanasi at the international photo exhibition. "