KENDRAPARA : EVERY year during the nine-day long Rath Yatra, the Devadasi of Baladevjew temple at Icchapur (Tulasi Khetra) in Kendrapara, Taramani Rout (50), performs in front of the holy trinity chariots, keeping alive the Devadasi tradition. She has been doing this for more than 15 years, since the death of previous Devadasi Kiranbara Dasi at the age of 78.
Devadasi is a banned tradition where women are dedicated to local temples for the service of deity for the rest of their lives.
Though this practice was abruptly halted at Puri Jagannath temple last year after the death of the last Devadasi Sashimani Devi, it is still being followed at the 400-year-old Baladevjew temple. “After the death of my husband 16 years back, I decided to become a Devadasi at Baladevjew temple. I started wearing vermilion on my forehead as my widowhood vanished after becoming a Devadasi,” Taramani said.
Taramani, of Bagapatia village, believes that it is important to keep the tradition alive for the future generations. She works as a lady home guard in Kendrapara and performs before the deities at the temple every evening. “Now I consider myself as the Sevak of the deities. I have been performing Mahari Seba, which includes dancing and singing before the deities and chariot,” she added.
Though Taramani is not provided with any remuneration by the temple authorities, she often gets monetary donations from the devotees. “I am the only Devadasi of the State at present who knows temple-dance to win over the hearts of the deities,” Taramani claimed.