Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - In the twenty-first century there still remains an ancestral tradition in the Indian state of Karnataka according to which some women, boys and girls of the lowest caste are offered to the Yallamma or Hulgamma deities. In seven districts of the State, there are also the so-called devadasi women, exploited as sex objects, slaves of the goddess Yallamma. The cultures and superstitions, fueled by poverty and ignorance, lead many families to make this kind of offerings in temples of worship to get rid of misfortunes from which they are affected. In addition to being condemned to live confined in temples, once they reach puberty, these young people become public property. They can be used to satisfy the sexual desires of a man, usually the head of the village, or of so many men, according to the requests. A devadasi cannot refuse the request, or can marry because, according to tradition, if she does the deity will launch misfortune on the closest relatives. When they reach a certain age they are reduced to begging and are disowned by their own families who have sacrificed them. Many end up in brothels in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, victims of trafficking and sexual diseases like AIDS. The NGO Manos Unidas, along with the Jesuits, are engaged in Sindargi, 60km from Bijapur, to help these women by offering them assistance and training, trying to make them understand that prostitution is not the only fate, organizing activities such as self-help groups, computer courses, English and other subjects, seminars and health awareness. 450 devadasi women and their children are benefiting from such assistance, who already begin to develop a sense of belonging to a group and gain self-esteem. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 24/09/2014)
