Background:

Human trafficking is the second-largest organized crime in India. An estimated 16 million women are victims of sex trafficking every year. Unfortunately, only 7% of them are ever rescued.

Once rescued from human trafficking, the trauma for the rescued women doesn't end but becomes the beginning of another trauma.

After the rescue, when their families are contacted, the parents often refuse to accept these women back home because of social stigma, patriarchy, and the fear of being shunned by society.

There are women who are abandoned by their loved ones and are living in despair for years. Some families refuse to even acknowledge the existence of their daughter and sever all ties with her.

The Lost Daughters aims to draw attention to this trauma and reunite these daughters with their families.

Cultural / Social / Political climate and the significance of the work within this context:

Durga Puja, one of the largest festivals in the world, celebrates the homecoming of the Goddess Durga. Indians all over the world welcome the Goddess like their own daughter.

The festival is celebrated in pavilion-like structures called ‘pandals’ where the idol of the Goddess Durga is worshipped for 10 days. The idol of the proverbial daughter is showered with love as millions of devotees gather in these pandals (pavilions) to catch a glimpse of the idol.

The Lost Daughters activation created a one-of-a-kind pandal (pavilion). A pandal without the idol of the Goddess.

The empty pandal (pavilion) symbolized the hypocrisy in the Indian society that welcomed the Goddess like a daughter yet abandoned daughters who were human trafficking survivors.

The ‘Lost Daughters’ were reunited with their families in the empty pandal (pavilion). The festival pavilion without the idol of the Goddess, gave Indians a visceral experience and opened their eyes to the patriarchy and bigotry that was responsible for the plight of innumerable women.

Creative idea:

Durga Puja, one of the largest festivals in the world, welcomes home the Goddess Durga like a daughter.

According to Hindu mythology, the Goddess Durga is the daughter who visits her parental home and is welcomed with open arms.

During this festival, countless pavilion-like structures called ‘pandals’ are constructed with the Durga idol. Millions of devotees visit these pandals (pavilions) to worship the idol and shower love on their proverbial daughter.

But this year, we created an unprecedented pandal (pavilion) that had no idol.

The Lost Daughters used this pandal (pavilion) without the idol of the Goddess to remind of the hypocrisy in India that welcomes the Goddess home like the daughter but abandons daughters who are rescued from human trafficking.

The empty pandal (pavilion) then went on to become the venue where rescued daughters were reunited with their families.

Strategy:

Durga puja is among the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals in the world. The 10-day festival celebrates the homecoming of the Goddess Durga. The Goddess is welcomed home like a daughter.

In 2021, Sanlaap, an NGO that rescues and rehabilitates human trafficking survivors, wanted to use the backdrop of this auspicious festival to reunite rescued women with their families and increase awareness about this issue.

During the festival, the empty pandals (pavilions) without the idol of the Goddess reminded millions of people who visit the pandals of the social injustice that happens within their homes to their daughters.

This was the perfect time to start a conversation around this unjust practice that adversely affects women and leaves them abandoned.

Execution:

The Lost Daughters activation was launched during the Durga Puja Festival, in October 2021. Millions of devotees flock to the pandals (pavilions) to worship the Goddess Durga.

Sanlaap, an NGO that rescues and rehabilitates human trafficking survivors, created an empty festival pavilion, without the idol of the Goddess. A large number of devotees who came to the venue to worship the idol were reminded of the hypocrisy in India that welcomes the Goddess home like the daughter but abandons daughters who are rescued from human trafficking. .

The venue, then further became a neutral ground for a reunion, where these daughters came face to face with their families.

Along with NGO workers, counsellors and human rights activists, they initiated a dialogue between these abandoned daughters and their families.

Results / Impact:

The empty pandal immediately garnered a lot of attention and became a talking point across social media platforms.

In just 6 months, Sanlaap has successfully reunited 18 happy daughters with their parents.

Sanlaap continues to raise awareness around this issue with regular conferences and awareness drives. The NGO has partnered with other organizations and imminent personalities to encourage families to fight the social stigma that stops them from accepting their own daughter home.

​
​