Mauritania, situated in the huge Sahara desert of north-west Africa, where a culture is flourishing among sand dunes that surprise the world. Here divorce is neither considered stigma, nor is it a symbol of freedom of women, which is celebrated with pomp.

The ‘divorced women’s market’ of the city of Naukhot is a living example of this, where newly-talked women gather and sell household items, celebrate and start a new life. There is a huge demand among men – they keep circling for the greege, because the society considers them ‘experienced’ and attractive. This market is not an ordinary marketplace, but a social and cultural platform.

History is ancient
Mauritania is the Arab-African country, which became independent from France in 1960, where 90 percent of the area is Sahara Desert. The population here is about 45 lakhs. The divorce rate in the culture here is very high-according to some reports, 30-40 percent marriages in women end on divorce. But in contrast, it does not bring stigma. Rather, women come to the market after divorce, where they are financially strong by selling household items like utensils, carpets, beds. Also, gives emotional support to each other-gaps, advice, joking. There is a communication of enthusiasm in the air of the market, as if a wedding fair is held. Here women wear bright clothes, hina and dance and sing.

View this post on Instagram