“If it is not cleaned and combed hair for a few days, ‘JATE’akan formed due to fungal infections and disorders such as plica Polonica.
It was just a superstition to believe that the rumpled ha ir is a sign of divine manifestation.
Encouraging people with matted hair to get shaved and healthy life.
goddess would approve.
“So reads the appeal printed in Kannada and Marathi in the pamphlet by Mahila Abhivruddi Mattu Samrakshana Samsthe (MASS), an NGO based in Ghataprabha in Gokak taluk Belagavi district.
Over the years, Yellavva Lakshman Pakande, along with other volunteers s from MASS, have been distributing leaflets in Saundatti and the towns and villages where the practice of devadasi been widespread and continues to be a concern surrounding.
“If only my parents already knew the facts behind the formation of tangled hair, my life would be different,” sighed Yellavva.
But the myth reign over facts in Katakbavi, a small village in the district of Belagavi where Yel lavva Pakande born, as they do in other parts of North Karnataka, where oppressive, patriarchal societies exploited girls from poor, lower-caste family in the name of tradition.
When Yellavva was seven years old, his parents noticed that his hair tangled in the mass, so that they are ‘dedicated’ him to Saun datti Yellamma god on the advice of village elders and priests.
Then start the full trip Yellavva the little girl, who was condemned to begging on the streets, carrying the idol goddess o n head.
He lived as a devadasi until he reaches the age of 30, ie until 1993, a period when the Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) has been in tensified efforts to stop the practice of devadasi.
The project officers give a clarion call to jogatis to get them tangled hair shaved.
However, there are a lot of reluctance in the community because of fear and religious beliefs.
The first to advance from the district Belagavi is Yellavva, and he pioneered the revolution.
“Then, in their awareness campaigns, project officers distribute fliers with photographs of newly grown my hair smooth textured.
The response was so excessive that devadasis including from Maharashtra poured in droves to have hygienic, their hair matted liceinfested chopped in Yellamma temple fairs.
Trucks should be used to move the mounds of tangled tresses, “he recalls.
Yellavva take the initiative in establishing self-help groups in the villages, and then join the MASS, an NGO established in 1997 with the support of KSWDC for rehabilitation devadasis.
A survey in 1993-1994 and 2007-08 KSWDC identified 46 660 former devadasis in the state.
A total of 256 new names were added to this list in 2021-22.
In a disturbing reminder that the social evil is still alive in some northern pockets of Karnataka, a 19-year girl in Bijapur rescued in February last year as her mother, a former devadasi, trying to force him to devadasi tradition.
MASS seeks to liberate devadasis by rehabilitating them and their children through skills-based training and employment opportunities.
“We are working towards preventing the resurgence of devad ation system, raise awareness of HIV / AIDS, and the fight against child marriages and human trafficking,” said Sitavva Jodatti, former devadasi who is chief executive officer of MASS.
Of devadasi CEO, S itavva journey is a story of hardship, grit, and determination.
Sitavva was born in 1973 in a poor household in Kabbur, Chikkodi taluk, district Belagavi, as the sixth daughter of her parents, who had no children.
When he was six years old, they dedicated him to the goddess so that she would remain unmarried according to custom, earn money, and care for them in their old age.
The girl went to school until her 7th grade horror began when she reaches puberty.
“I want to learn more and become a teacher.
But my hopes were dashed.
Evening turned into a nightmare for me and I began to fear the darkness, “recounts Sitavva, who has two children with a man when she was 17 and another child with a protective when she 29.” Life devadasi a restless, socially, emotionally, and financially.
My kids were humiliated at school because they do not know their classmates that their father.
I do not want other women to go throug h what I went through.
So, I collaborate with the government on projects that aim to liberate devadasis, and I eventually joined MASS, “said Sitavva.
In recognition of its serv ices, the President of India awarded the Padma Shri Award Sitavva in 2018.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the ‘Mann ki Baat’ speech to praise his efforts.