Men Protest Vat Purnima with Reverse March Around Peepal Tree

While women across Maharashtra observed Vat Purnima, fasting and performing rituals around the banyan tree for the long life and well-being of their husbands, these men—members of the PatniPidit Purush Ashram (Husband-Abused Men’s Shelter)—chose to mark the day in a dramatically different manner. Instead of circling the banyan tree in reverence, they walked in reverse around a Peepal (sacred fig) tree, voicing their discontent and mental anguish.

The group also worshipped a crow, which they symbolically treated as a “messenger of freedom from suffering.”

A Voice for the Voiceless

“There are countless laws, organizations, and campaigns that fight for women’s rights—and rightly so,” said the president of the PatniPidit Purush Ashram. “But there is no one to hear the cries of men who are mentally, socially, and financially tortured by their wives. This celebration of ‘Pimpal Purnima’ is a symbol of that silent suffering.”

He added that many of the men associated with the ashram had faced severe emotional trauma, false legal cases, and even societal isolation due to domestic issues. The event was designed to raise awareness about such cases and to demand that men’s rights and issues be treated with seriousness and empathy.

“Not Seven Births, Not Even Seven Seconds”

The event’s slogan—“Not seven births, not even seven seconds!”—was a direct parody of the traditional Vat Purnima prayer, where women wish to be married to the same husband for seven lifetimes. In contrast, the protesting men exclaimed:
"Seven births? We don’t even want seven seconds with a wife who makes life unbearable!"

The emotionally charged gathering saw participants sharing personal stories and calling for legal reforms and more balanced gender laws that also protect men.

Though unconventional and satirical in nature, the event has sparked debate across social and digital platforms about the need for gender-neutral laws and the mental health of men facing domestic challenges.