I chose to write a blog post on the devadasi women and the issue of sex-trafficking in connection with ritual sex and shrine prostitution that plagues the South Indian state of Karnatka, where Kannada is spoken. The tradition of devadasi (which means maidservants of god in Kannada) , is one that no one knows the exact origin of. While people don't know when the practice started scholars agree that at the outset devadasi women and girls served in the temples as dancers, singers, companions for priests and wealthy men and as cleaners in the temples. Prostitution has always been a part of being a devadasi and it is a heartbreaking reality for tens of thousands of women and girls.
Girls are sent to the temple between the ages of 8-10. They start work as prostitutes between the ages of 11-13. They have sex with the Hindu priests as well as with worshipers of the goddess Yemena. When the girls become too old they are kicked out on the street and forced into prostitution to earn food. No one will give them other jobs within the Hindu community. Segregation between Muslim and Hindu communities make it almost impossible for them to find employment in the Muslim community. Most will die of HIV AIDS. Many have multiple children from the temple prostitution and on their children's birth cirtificates it says "Father- devaru (god)" because their father is unknown to them.
Children by a temple in Karnatka
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