Ganesh festival shoots up sex drive!
Attribute it to a rush of libido, a rise in licentiousness, or both. In Pune, as Ganeshotsav draws closer, there is a spurt in the demand for, hold your breath, condoms.
The numbers are staggering. In the normal course, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) distributes six lakh free condoms every month. But during the Ganesh festivities, which lasts for about a fortnight, there is a demand for over 10 lakh condoms. If you add the sales figures of contraceptives at private chemist shops, the total is anybody’s guess.
Mauli Narhare, president, Pune Chemists’ Association, said “they had not carried out any scientific study” but the sale of condoms is “definitely much higher during the festival”.
The rise in demand has been such that PMC health chief Dr P.S. Dhaigude is worried. The civic body has launched a “safe sex” drive in the city. A poster at a condom-selling outlet declares: “Practise safe sex, avoid AIDS, use condoms”.
Mona, a sex worker in Pune’s red light area, said visitors had nearly doubled as the festival season set in. Tamanna, a brothel owner, said they had to change their schedule due to the rush of customers.
So why is Pune on a sex overdrive?
Meena Kurlekar of the NGO Vanchit Vikas gives two reasons. First, there is a temporary migration of sex workers to make the best of the festival.
Second, young couples, away from the prying eyes of their parents and out to enjoy the salubrious weather of Maharashtra’s cultural capital, flock to the city.
The phenomenon bears shades of Mumbai’s Navratri festivities. It is an open secret that, amid the dandiya dances, there is increased sexual activity among young Gujaratis.
What Navratri does to Gujaratis, Ganeshotsav does to Puneites.
Kailaash Dave said,
August 28, 2006 @ 10:58 pm
It’s common knowledge among the youngsters that this happens. Reason is no parents restrict you to go out till as late as 2.00 a.m. in the night for seeing the ganesh decoration. & in the huge crowds nobody questions you. Many new fly by night / one night stands also develop in the incressed festivity, fun & promiscuity.
The extrended nature of this festival gives suffiecient time for this.
Magnum said,
August 29, 2006 @ 2:23 am
Yeah I do agree with this.
Anonymous said,
August 29, 2006 @ 3:32 am
Very good
Hussain said,
August 29, 2006 @ 9:13 am
I am not sure if it is the case as is given but one should know condoms are used in many ways, for one in construction… etc., I had read an article in our debonairblog probably ten days ago. So may be someone is misusing the freely distributed condoms.
rohit said,
August 29, 2006 @ 9:30 am
It’s common knowledge among the youngsters that this happens. Reason is no parents restrict you to go out till as late as 2.00 a.m. in the night for seeing the ganesh decoration. & in the huge crowds nobody questions you. Many new fly by night / one night stands also develop in the incressed festivity, fun & promiscuity.
The extrended nature of this festival gives suffiecient time for this.
Magnum said,
Mohan said,
August 30, 2006 @ 1:12 am
This is not happening only in pune, all over major cities during such type of festivals. The main reason, what I feel is, the youngesters and even middle aged people desire to get on it.
maddy said,
September 1, 2006 @ 4:23 am
Hi, I visited PUNE during Janmastami and Ganesh Festival. Shocked to see all ages of people roaming in streets till 2am. I had been to Laxmi roads which atached with red light streets. I had seen many Prostitutes trying to attact people. In that huge crowd no one recognizes local people and it brings freedom to the people who would like to meet a protitute.
p. jaiswal said,
September 9, 2006 @ 3:55 am
the young girls know how to take advantage of the situation to enjoy their life.
satyendra said,
September 12, 2006 @ 9:31 am
Meena Kurlekar of the NGO Vanchit Vikas gives two reasons. First, there is a temporary migration of sex workers to make the best of the festival.
shashank said,
September 26, 2006 @ 8:41 am
nowadays it has become a way of life due to varios reasons and the young generation wants to exploit more as sex has become very cheap due to the IT industry.people tend to spend more and get more of what is spent.this is never going to stop but no doubt with the calculation PUNE CITY will be the biggest hub for hiv aids and related patients after ten years in INDIA
There is no way in stoping this.ONLY WHEN THE TRUE PICTURE OF AIDS PATIENTS ARE DEPICTED AT EVERY PAN SHOP WILL LEAD TO DROP IN THIS ACTIVITY.