Tribal custom: Media flayed for bad portrayal

YERCAUD: The negative publicity surrounding an age-old ‘women-only’ ritual has proved a roadblock for the tribal community in Vellakadai village, located 15 km from Yercaud, from practising their custom in a traditional manner.As per tradition, on the day after the conclusion of Pongal festivities, the menfolk stay out of the village from dawn to dusk even as the women engage in their ritual, which is meant to appease the village goddesses.Back in the day, the women were said to perform dances in the nude as part of the ritual, a practice that is no longer in vogue. However, this year, like was the case in the recent past, the villagers were forced to perform this ritual under the watchful eyes of the police and revenue officials.  The presence of officials is attributed to rumours, especially among the media, that the practice of nude dancing continues on to this day.The local tribals see this as a challenge to their independence, as the proceedings of the entire day are recorded by women revenue officials, with police personnel for security. This continues, despite the fact that year after year, the officials have been sending reports to the Collector that prove that no such dance rituals take place during the particular day.As a resident, Velliamma (82), further explained, “The gods would be angered if the rituals are not conducted. If conducted, this would appease Mariamma (the deity) who would then bless the village with rain and other bounties.” According to the villagers, men are still kept out, they said, simply because tradition cannot be entirely be given up. This stigma has also hit the educated young women of the village, who rued that tribal boys from other villages do not prefer to marry them as they are often stigmatised as  nude dancers. As Sudha Rani (20), who now works in a DTP centre in Salem, put it, “It is the media which has brought all the bad name for our village. We had been repeatedly telling that no nude dance ritual ever takes place and yet, we are projected badly by the media.” Panchayat president Annadurai (48) also held the district administration and the media responsible for this stigma.