By P. Vijian, NNN-Bernama,
Salem, India : Paying homage to gods and goddesses comes in many forms, but the women in a rural village in southern India have an uncanny way of worshipping their goddess.
They still refuse to wear blouses for fear their favourite goddess might punish them if they violate the age-old belief.
It has been a century-old practice in Thottiayanur village, near Salem city, about 350km from Chennai (the capital of Tamil Nadu state), for women of the Thotianaicken community to wrap themselves with only sarees and bare their bosoms.
Only the saree’s “pallu” (the throw of the saree) covers their upper body, the only reason being their fear of Goddess Bommakka, the Goddess of Earth who is the village’s guardian goddess, punishing women who wear blouses.
“Both females and males firmly believe that their goddess would punish them. This stigma etched in their mind cannot be wiped out until now,” K. Sridevi, a social worker with the All India Democratic Women’s Association, told Bernama.
She said some women wear blouses without the knowledge of their families when they travel out of the village but remove the top and hide it in their bags upon their return, fearing that village elders would ostracize them.
Fearing ill luck like diseases or natural calamity befalling the village, the community would excommunicate any female caught wearing blouses.
Sridevi said the villagers often prohibit outsiders from entering their homes and only young girls are allowed to be clad in any normal dress until they attain puberty.
“Some younger women have the desire to wear blouses now after they are influenced by television and movies but they are scared to give up their belief.
“Since the custom of baring their top without wearing a blouse has been deep-rooted in this community for generations, it cannot be done away in a moment,” she added.
So, even in the 21st century, wearing blouses remains a taboo for women in Thottiayanur village of Tamil Nadu state.