Lust in the Name of God

Devadasi system is not only exploitation of women, it is the institutionalized exploitation of women; it is the exploitation of Dalits, the lower class of untouchables; it is the religious sanction given to prostitution of helpless economically and socially deprived women; It is the glorification of humiliation of women. Inherent in this system is the fascistic belief that a certain section of human population, the lower caste, is meant to serve the ‘higher caste’s superior men’. Inherent in it is the feudal-lord-temple-priest-nexus, where the priest, already having a psychological hold over the minds of simple people to the point of dictating their way of life, uses his power to give ‘religious sanction’ to the practice by declaring it ‘sacred’, and thus cajole and lure simple minded villagers into this worst form of prostitution.
After centuries of traditionally imposed prostitution, young girls in Wadia village near Palanpur for the first time are getting ready for a mass marriage. Wadia is known for being the village of prostitutes in Gujarat, where young girls are trained to provide sexual services as soon as they attain puberty. The sex workers mostly belong to the Sarania community, mainly from Rajasthan and Saurashtra.
The mass marriage of 15 girls is scheduled on March 11. Invitations have been sent out and 1,500-odd baraatis are expected to come. The excitement is palpable in the village. After years of forced exploitation, this act of marital alliance will ensure a stable monogamous relationship for these girls and will change the course of this small village’s history. For the first time, the girls will not be forced into the flesh trade.
Vicharti Jaati Samuday Samarthan Manch, a local NGO convinced boys from the community to marry the girls by building trust among them. Seven girls above 18 years of age and eight girls who are younger will take part in the mass marriage. This is commendable since most families are reluctant to get a girl from Wadia