Sejal Shah, a journalist and a film-maker,
has made a documentary entitled Joginis - Servants of
God. The documentary is about Joginis who are dedicated
to Goddess Yellamma, an act that forfeits their right
to ever marry in reality. They are also known as Devdasis.
After puberty a Jogini has to spend the first night
with either the priest or her virginity is auctioned
off. There are more than 30,000 Joginis in Andra Pradesh.
And thousands more spread all over the country. Though
it is illegal to dedicate women in any form to the local
deity, this practice is still common in villages exploiting
women and lower castes. Jogini system has resulted in
a growing number of illegitimate children. These children
are not only deprived of education but the daughters
of Joginis are forced to carry on the tradition and
become a Jogini. This documentary has some exclusive
footage of an initiation of a baby girl into the custom
and a young woman being dedicated to the temple goddess
and becoming a Jogini. It also has interviews with Joginis
who tell their stories and the lives they face after
being forced into this custom.
The synopsis of the documentary brought back memories
of a similar system existing in Nipani about which Reaching
Out, a group in Mumbai, had brought out a diary in 1982.
That the custom exists even to this day proves how much
more work lies ahead of people who want to bring about
a change in the lives of women. The 1982 diary is reproduced
below. R.V.Ramani took the photographs in the diary. |
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