Dhanteras: An initiative urges women to invest in iron instead of gold

Dhanteras is a Hindu festival which marks the festival of Diwali in India. The festival which is also known as Dhanatrayodashi or Dhanvantari Trayodashi is celebrated before Chhoti Diwali and this year Dhanteras is falling on October 25. On Dhanteras, people usually buy new kitchen utensils as it is considered auspicious to do so. An initiative called Project Streedhan is urging women to invest in valuable other than gold or silver. They have a desire that women on Dhanteras should invest in iron as according to their date, one out of every two women in the country is anaemic. It is an iron deficiency which causes a lack of healthy red blood cells ultimately leading to weakness. As an attempt to spread awareness about the deficiency, the initiative is asking women to invest in iron instead of gold this year. 

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Project Streedhan releases music video

They have made the use of social media hashtag #InvestInIron to urge women to make sure their diet is rich in iron. Project Streedhan has released a music video on their social media with a motive to spread awareness about anaemia. In the video, Indian women are shown eating foods and fruits that are rich in iron while a background song plays. The video has been viewed 1.7 million times, liked 13K times, 12K shares and received about 500 comments. A user commented, "Sailesh Mishra Excellent way to present so simple thing and most important for any woman". Another user wrote, "Good message for all ladies, invest your health". A third user wrote, "Great message, Taking care of ourselves is a must in today’s busy life for overall upliftment of self, family and society". 

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Vidya Balan's Instagram post

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan posted a picture on her Instagram account where she is eating dates. She wrote a long caption along with the picture where she is saying that 1 out of 2 women in India are anaemic and she herself had been that woman for years. She wrote that she can not emphasize enough how much stronger and healthier she feels with the optimal HB in her body. She then urged women on this Dhanteras to invest in iron instead of gold and get themselves tested. A user commented, "Ma'am even I'm one out of two women...my anaemia started at a very young age...due to this I am facing lots of problems...I think we should put the habit of this for our kids from a very young age". Another user wrote, "Yes iron deficiency is base of all saviour illnesses. I am being a man have anaemia for the whole of life and now it led to life threatening blood disorder. Everyone should be careful with iron deficiency".

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