Devadasi practice in Karnataka continues even today: Estimates of foreign institutions – more than 90 thousand Devadasis in the state, 20% below the age of 18

From Kudligi in Karnataka, where a 22-year-old girl had pleaded to avoid the Devadasi system.

We are living in 21st century. But due to socio-cultural beliefs in many parts of Karnataka, Devadasi malpractice continues even today. In February, 22-year-old Rudramma (name changed) had sought help from the Devadasi Nirmulan Kendra to avoid becoming a Devadasi. With this the administration swung into action and saved her from becoming a devadasi.

Searching for him, we reached his house in Kudligi town of Vijayanagar district. Here Rudramma was going out with her mother for labor on the farm. Rudramma says- ‘Even though she escaped being a part of this evil practice. But due to my family background, my boyfriend’s family members refused to get married. Now I am getting out of this stress and working as a laborer to support the family.

Rudramma further says that I had never thought of such a life. I used to study Due to his interest in dance and drama, he enrolled in the institute. As soon as the people there came to know that I belonged to the family of a sex worker, the institute and the boys around it started taunting me. So everything went away. She says that with age comes social division. This social discrimination must be broken.

Rudramma’s mother says that to avoid marriage, Rudramma had resorted to lies. Rudramma had told the police that she was being pressured by her mother and family to become a devadasi. Later her mother gave an assurance in writing that she would not associate her daughter with the Devadasi system. Actually, this practice is associated with religious tradition. Therefore, in Kudligi, when a girl is introduced into the Devadasi system, it begins with worship, rituals and dances and songs performed by the Devadasi girl at the Maramma temple.

After being dedicated to the temple and married to the Lord, she becomes their sex slave or captive to serve the men of the upper castes without any future. For the past few years, the administration has banned the observance of such customs. But in some of the temples of the district, this practice secretly continues unabated. Rudramma was rescued before she was sent to the temple.

3 thousand devadasis in 120 villages… 90% of them come from scheduled tribes
Journalist Kiran Kumar Balnanavaran points out that there are 120 villages in Hudlige taluka of Vijayanagar. In these villages there are about 3 thousand former devadasis. It is the responsibility of the government to rehabilitate all these. 90% of the Devadasis come from the Scheduled Tribes. Brahmins and upper caste girls are not made devadasis. Gopal Nayak, who is associated with Devadasi Rescue and Rehabilitation, explains that Devadasi’s brother leads a normal life and his wife is not included in this practice.

According to the survey conducted by the state government in 2008 and the figures of Karnataka State Women Development Corporation, the number of Devadasis is about 40,600. But in 2018, a study conducted by a foreign NGO and Karnataka State Women’s University found 90,000 devadasis in Karnataka, of which more than 20% devadasis from northern Karnataka are below 18 years of age.