PUNE: The auspicious occasion of Gudi Padva, April 11, will mark the beginning of Stree Pratishtha Abhiyan, launched by the Sakal Media Group to ensure self-respect and dignity for women. A gudi will be raised in Kolhapur’s Mahalaxmi Temple to mark the State-wide launch of the campaign.

Representatives of various political parties and social organisations have left no stone unturned to ensure the event is celebrated in a grand manner. The gudhi will be worshipped at Kolhapur’s Mahalaxmi Temple in the morning on April 11, followed by a public function in the evening at the Bhavani Mandap premises. Launched under the leadership of Sakal Media Group’s Saam TV channel, the Tanishka Stree Pratishtha Abhiyan has been introduced to provide a platform for women all over the State. Using this platform, women from all over Maharashtra will get the opportunity to voice their opinions, upgrade their social status and strengthen the family as well as the social system.

A workshop of elected women representatives from all over the State was recently conducted in Mumbai, as part of this campaign. This has evoked an overwhelming response from women all over the State who had expressed eagerness in joining the movement.

Women participants at the workshop spontaneously supported the idea of raising a gudi in Kolhapur, the state’s favourite place of devotion, to flag off the campaign.

While the main gudhi will be raised in Kolhapur on April 11 (Gudhi Padva), women who have joined the Tanishka Vyaspeeth all over the State will raise similar gudhis in their respective areas. Various political parties and social organisations have appreciated the idea of launching the campaign from Kolhapur. They have also committed to actively participating in the initiative. In a meeting held at Sakal’s Kolhapur office, representatives of political and social organisations were called upon to make this event a festival of Kolhapur. An appeal was also made to assemble for this event on April 11.

Kolhapur will be specially decorated, for which local organisations have voluntarily come forward to help. All participating women have been requested to be dressed in the traditional Maharashtrian attire.