A Video that went viral on the internet showed minor girls who were standing topless for a temple ritual that is follwed for years in Madurai. The ‘Ezhai Katha Amman’ temple follows this old ritual, 7 minor girls are selected from the village, who will be treated and worshipped as ‘Goddesses’ for 15 days. The girls have to stay within the temple premises for 15 days and won’t be sent to school.
The temple priest reportedly cherry pricks the girls who are forced to do it by their parents, makes them stay with him in the temple premises for 15 days to offer their services to the temple deity. On the last day of the festival which is considered special , women from the village along with the seven girls are asked to small carry pots of liquor as an offering to the goddess.
While doing the liqour ritual , even the women involved too are not allowed to wear blouses(topless). This year, the festival started on September 12 and was celebrated on till Tuesday.A feminine activist based out of Madurai has reportedly taken the issue(which is considered as a ritual) to Human Rights Commission.We respect all religion. But, at the same time, their belief cross limits to human rights violation. Only women and kids involved in this practice,” she rued.
