CALCUTTA, Oct 20 (AFP) - Folk singers and actors began a 10-day AIDS awareness campaign Saturday in India's eastern state of West Bengal timed to coincide with the biggest annual Hindu festival.
The performers will visit 3,500 fairgrounds to use music and theater to drive home the dangers of AIDS to Bengalis celebrating the Durga Puja festival, organizers said.
The artists, who were welcomed Saturday by state Governor Viren J. Shah, will also perform and distribute condoms at major road intersections, police barracks and in red light areas.
"Durga Puja, the biggest festival for Hindus in West Bengal, breaks all social barriers and millions come to Calcutta," said Mrinal Kanti Dutta, an organizer of anti-AIDS campaigns among prostitutes.
"Many of them visit red light areas and return home with AIDS," Kanti said.
Pranoy Dutta, a prominent folk singer, said artists had composed a number of songs "to remind people of the dangers of visiting prostitutes and of taking necessary precautions if they do like to."
A recent report by India's health ministry said as many as 3.5 million Indians, from a population of more than a billion, have HIV, although unofficial estimates put the figure at closer to five million.
"Most of them are facing a social ban and are living secluded lives. A concerted effort should be made to check the disease," Mrinal Kanti Dutta said.
The colorful Hindu festival which begins Tuesday celebrates Durga, the demon-killing goddess of strength and protection.
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