37mins/Marathi/2012
| Production House : |
Sanjivani Productions / DJ Productions |
| Directed by : |
Devendra Shivaji Jadhav / Suresh Chavan |
| Director of Photography : |
Srikant Dutta |
| Editor : |
Arvind Tyagi |
| Research : |
Suresh Chavan |
Synopsis :
Devdasis still Saundatti-bound:-
BELGAUM: The government may have taken measures to eradicate the Devdasi custom, but it appears to be a tough breed. Come mid-January, these women "dedicated to service of god" prepare for `Muthaide Hunnime' in Saundatti, a village in Belgaum district. It is a three-day festival to celebrate the resurrection of Jamadagni, who, tradition dictates, the women are wedded to. Around 2 to 3 lakh people gather at this time. Devdasis from neighbouring Maharashtra and Goa also flock here. Tradition holds that the women bathe, dress in neem leaves and travel to the temple, circling it three times before entering. There the priest ties the red and white bead necklaces around the necks of the women, signifying their marriage to Jamadagni. Devdasis, dedicated to the service of God, are professional dancers and singers. The cult became popular between the 9th and the 11th centuries in India, when temples were also seen as centres of art. In medieval India, sexual love was a manifestation of divine presence. The Devdasis and their dance were seen as divine. But with passing years, the Devdasis role shifted from the divine, to being companions to priests, kings and eventually the rich men in the community. And the chosen women fell into disrepute. Saundatti is not only famous for Yellamma temple, but also for the Devdasi cult. Most Devdasis are from northern Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa. The practice, though banned, continues in some pockets of the district. At the `Rande Hunnime' festival, which usually falls in the second week of December, thousands of Devdasis gather at Saundatti to mourn the death of Jamadagni. The women wail and sing and dance themselves into a trance. From the moment the women break the bangles on the shrine, they enter into a period of mourning. Kempavva, a reformed Devdasi, told The Times of India, she and her associates would dance before the shrine, but would not break their bangles. Last year she decided to give it all up, and now she works as an activist for the rehabilitation of Devdasis. But Rukmini, another Devdasi from Belagali village is a picture in contrast. She was proud to be a Devdasi, who felt the curse of Goddess Yellamma would befall those who did not fulfil their duties. While some women may be motivated to dedicate their daughters to the practice out of religious sentiment, others do so out of blind devotion or economic necessity. The temple priests are known to threaten families with the vengeance of Goddess Yellamma if they did not dedicate their daughters as Devdasis. Couples who having difficulty conceiving also vow to dedicate their girl child to the goddess. Young Devdasis fetch a high price in Bombay brothels. Some others (with matted hair) remain ascetics and virgins. A few are lucky to remain with one man.
