MADURAI: For ages around this time of the year, residents of Vellalur Nadu near Sivaganga district organise a 15-day festival for their deity - Ezhai Kaatha Amman (Goddess, who protect the poor). Guess what grabs the attention? The custom of topless adolescent girls in the pre-puberty stage participating in the celebrations. Activists now want to put an end to it and intend to escalate it to the Human Rights Commission.
The Ezhai Katha Amman Temple is 10 km away from Madurai on Melur-Sivaganga High Road. It is known as the deity of a group called Ambalakarar in Vellalur Nadu near Sivagangai district.
Each year, seven girls are selected by the priest as ‘seven ammans’ and are made to live topless on the temple premises till the festival comes to an end. The cherry-picking of the girls happens without their consent. They are forced by parents to follow the practice.
On the last day of the festival, women from the village and the seven girls are asked to carry pots of liquor as an offering to the goddess. While doing so, women too are not allowed to wear blouses. This year, the festival started on September 12 and was on till Tuesday. “This is a custom that we are practicing for so many years now. During the festival, for 15 days, these children are treated as goddess. It would indeed be a matter of pride if our child is selected as one among the seven. Everyday, they have to perform activities that relate to the amman and they will not be allowed to attend school for 15 days,” said Shanthi, a resident of Vellalur, adding the children stay along with the temple priest.
Commenting on the practice, advocate Selva Gomathi, a feminist based out of Madurai said, “We respect all religion. But, at the same time, their belief should not amount to human rights violation. Only women and kids are part of this practice,” she rued.
Condemning it, she said, “During the 15 days, these children are forced to stay in temple. What about their safety? There is a chance for child abuse. Will there be an issue if children and women wear their tops and carry out the rituals? This seems like women and girl children are treated like sexual objects. Such practices are against women and child rights. We will take this issue to the Human Rights Commission,” she said.