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JOHINI - In the Service of the Lord.

© Meenakshi Subramaniam

Harikaa..A bubbly eight-year old for whom life meant more candy and beating her arch-rival in class who always walked off with A-Grades. Surrounded by new books and note-books and toys, and full of chatter about her new class teacher, little did Harikaa know about the future-plans that her grand-mother had charted out for her. During the festival of Sivaratri (a noted annual festival in honour of Lord Shiva occurring in the month of Nov-Dec), the whole village was filled with gaiety and hope; her parents and her grand-mother decked her and in an elaborate ritual, dedicated her to the Great God. Returning home later, the event was celebrated even more grandly. When Harikaa reached puberty, the same rituals would be celebrated again to reaffirm her as a bride of the Lord.

Johini is a common epithet for all the girls who are dedicated to God in return for favours granted. It is believed that Shiva will protect the village from drought, famine and communicable diseases. But once a girl becomes a Johini, she is expected to serve not only the God but the local chief as well in whatever manner he expects of her. This is the most pathetic exploitation of innocent and poor girls by powerful males, in the name of religion.

"Samakar' , a socially-conscious organisation, is going all out to save these Johini women. Samakar prevented Harikaa's final rites of dedication and saved her life from filth and depression. Harikaa was lucky. Unlike thousands of other women who're still leading an undignified life as the supposed handmaidens of God. Harikaa's grand-mother, the man who was supposed to perform the rites, and some of the other villagers who were involved in the ritual were later convicted.

There's a poignant story behind every Johini woman. Harikaa reveals,' When I was inside my mother's womb, my granny made a promise to the great god that she would dedicate me as a Johini.' Harikaa's pregnant mother was suddenly stricken by a strange disease at the time this promise was made. Before that, she'd lost her six-month old son, and the next child was stillborn. So, to prevent further bad omens, Harikaa was to be sacrificed. This Johini practice is still common in Medhak, Adhilabad, Mehboob Nagar, Karim Nagar, and Andhra Pradesh.

When 8 year old's Ramalavya's mother was attacked by chicken-pox, her husband Balayya promised that if his wife recovered , he'd dedicate his daughter Ramalavya as a Johini. Once Ramalavya was dedicated as a Johini, future generations followed the beaten path and more Johinis were added. Kuruvamma, as a child, refused to drink milk from her mother. Fearing the worst, her mother immediately made a promise that her daughter would serve him as a Johini if she grows up to be normal.