Monday, April 11, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Giving social stigma a break

 

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-09/mysore/29400192_1_dalits-hindus-village-deity

Giving social stigma a break
M B Maramkal, TNN, Apr 9, 2011, 10.57pm IST

HALLIKEREHUNDI(CHAMARAJNAGAR District): This tradition blurs the
social stigma attached to dalits, though for just a week. Prior to the
annual fair of village deity Bajjamma beginning April 11, Hindus call
dalits to their homes and worship them.

Dalits from neighbouring villages dressed as cannibals (Kalibalis in
local parlance) visit houses in the village dominated by Lingayats.
They are welcomed with garlands, taken to inner precincts (entry to
which is otherwise barred for dalits), worshipped and offered
foodgrains.

"At least for a week, unmindful of social stigma, Hindus embrace us,"
says Kemparaju, Gananganur village panchayat member, who led Kalibalis
on Thursday. "This tradition has reduced hatredness about dalits. The
festival has succeeded in bringing closer dalits and Hindus," says
Nanjundaswamy, another dalit from the village. However, Bhagyaraju, a
Lingayat and farmers' leader from the village, feels the tradition has
not been successful in eliminating untouchability.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
.

__,_._,___

No comments:

Post a Comment

Blog Archive