JOIN USAt Saundatti, it is the day of widows
The origin of the festival is rooted in mythology, and the event is observed to mourn the death of seer Jamadagni, whom the legends say, the women are wedded to.
To mark the widowed status of Yellamma, married women remove all the marks of their married status, such the vermillion ‘bindi’ on their forehead, the daub of turmeric on the cheeks, the mangalasutra in their neck and toe rings. They break bangles, wail and sing.
‘Muttaide Hunnime’
They will observe the ritual of widowhood for a month till the next full moon day, which is celebrated as ‘Muttaide Hunnime,’ marking the resurrection of Jamadagni, as per the legend. They then formally put back the bindi on their forehead and smear their cheeks with the turmeric and wear again the ornaments which they had taken off four weeks earlier, symbolically representing the married status regained.
Some non-government organisations had a few years ago strongly opposed the observances as these practices seem to glorify and reinstate the patriarchal ideologies of wifery and reinforce the beliefs and practices of widowhood.
Practice still on
Worse, on the day, young dalit girls used to be dedicated as Devadasis, a practice which used to drive them into prostitution. With a ban on the practice imposed two decades ago, the dedication has now gone underground, away from the gaze of the law and disapproving non-governmental organisations (NGO).
In the recent past, activists tried to persuade the devotees not to follow these superstitious practices and check devadasi system and even succeeded to a certain extent, in cajoling the women to wear the bangles, instead of breaking them. However, the practice was resumed with vigour. The rituals, including the dedication of young girls are observed on the sly.
B Y Rabakavi, the administrator of the temple, said already over seven lakh people have arrived from different parts of the country for the festival.