SOME INDIAN-ORIGIN WOMEN DRESS INAPPROPRIATELY WHEN ATTENDING FUNERALS

"WE HAVE LOST OUR CULTURAL VALUES"


By Subry Govender
Have some women of Indian-origin lost their cultures and values when attending funerals of their families, friends or neighbours?
This is the question many funeral goers posed when attending the funeral of a five-year-old girl in Phoenix on Wednesday, March 4. The child died tragically after falling into a pool while on a visit to Johannesburg at the weekend.
Hundreds of people of all faiths attended the funeral  as the father of the child is of the Hindu faith and the mother of the Christian faith.
Religious tolerance was evident during the ceremonies when prayers were offered both by Hindu and Christian priests.
But what clearly appeared to be shocking and unacceptable was that some of the women, both young and not-so-young, attended the funeral in very tight pants, short dresses and dungarees.
In one case the young women's pants was so tight that it caused stirs all-round. One women, who had a red string tied in one of her hands, wore tight dungarees. Her blouse did not cover much.

                                                 "WE HAVE LOST IT"

One of the religious leaders who spoke at the funeral, Mr Lesly Benjamin, did not pull any punches when I asked him why do some women dress in such an inappropriate ways at funerals.

"We have lost it," he said.
He added: "Some of our people have lost their cultures and moral values. They are aping the western world. That is why we are faced with all the social problems today."



                                                      "SERIOUS PROBLEM"


A local leader who spoke at the funeral, Mr John Reddy, said inappropriate dress by some women was not only a problem at funerals but also at religious functions and other occasions.
"We promote our cultural values and principles but unfortunately some of the women don't show any respect whatsoever. When we try to speak to these women,  they question us and say it's none of our business and we must not interfere.
"We have a serious problem. It seems that some of the women have lost their cultural values and morals," said Mr Reddy.
Another religious leader who attended the funeral, Mr Mannie Reddy, said they try to lay down the rules at his religious institution and show the door to those who go astray.
"But of course it's all about how these women are brought up by their parents and how they co-operate with their husbands.

                                             
"It's very very sad that we have reached this state of affairs in our communities," he said.


                                           "NO RESPECT FOR GOD"

                                                           
Mrs Sugamani Govender, who attended the funeral, said the women who dressed inappropriately at funerals showed no respect for "God" and for those who had passed on.
"I am shocked that some women can dress in tight pants and short dresses for funerals. What respect do they show for the person who has passed on?," she asked.
"It seems to me that these women have aped western values and have lost their cultures."
Another mourner, Mr Jackson Naidoo, said some women who dressed inappropriately for funerals and religious occasions clearly demonstrated that they had no respect.
"If they want to dress in such a manner then they should not attend funerals or religious functions. These women must learn to show respect," he said.