She doesn't pray anymore though she lives next to the "yellamma" temple. She lost her virginity when she was 13. She fell in love once but soon realised its too fancy an indulgence for her. She is the only "man" in the family of 5. But fears that she would no longer be there.....
She is suffering from HIV. She is a Devdasi - Prostitute of GOD!!!
Intimading and sacrilageous right??? But sadly its the truth that prevails at a much larger scale than we expect.
The devdasi culture is a perfect example of the disgusting hypocrisy that exists in our society. A society where we worship female deities in temples but are perfectly fine with commoditising women in every possible way - ads for men's deo, toothpaste, biscuits, cement, where women in skimpy clothes are extremely necessary (product is irrelevant as long a half naked women is there),we enjoy chikni chameli, and munni badnam with women dancing to detogatory lyrics. ( how does that matter that's our favourite party song)
Devdasi culture is another example of the levels to which a section of society can go down to in the name of religious rituals where parents turn pimps and hundreds of innocent girls are forced to become prostitutes in the name of GOD.
(To know more about devdasi culture click here)
On 8th march we will celebrate the "commercialisation of womenhood". We will go for our office sponsored lunches, like status updates on women's day share quotes on empowering women. Happily oblivious of the sect of women for whom being a women is a bane and not a boon, women who don't even get the fundamental right of being a human leave alone being a women.
But who cares? celebrating women's day is important in our lives with our metro sexual partners, stable careers, bank balances, supportive families, an equal status as our male counter parts and freedom of choice on allmost everything.
All of us have got our fair share of status and freedom in the society. We are already celebrating our womenhood every day we don't need a special day.
The day when each and every women gets the respect she deserves, when we the fortunate and empowered section of women step ahead and give our support to the less fortunate women and bring them to the same level. The day when a ritual like devdasis no more exists. That day we as a society deserve to celebrate women's day in its true sense.
Milaap is one such organisation which is helping these women. This women's day lets make our small contribution to help these women.
http://milaap.org/campaigns/hope
