Hindu Priestesses Gain Ground

September 23, 2004

Thane, INDIA (Sept. 23, 2004) - They chant aartis at Ganpati pandals

with the same enthusiasm with which they cook meals at home. Not even

the toughest of Sanskrit shlokas is a hurdle for them. Dressed in

traditional zari saris, these new-age priestesses are an all-women's

team known as the Purohitas and they are now a regular feature in

Thane homes.

Says Jayashree Thatte of the Rashtrasevika Samiti Purohita Mandal, "We

give a lot of importance to pronunciation and rote learning and none

of our girls are allowed to practise unless they clear our exams." The

mandal has a membership of 70 women from all walks of life. They get

together once every fortnight to discuss their activities and experiences.

"The field has always been dominated by men and people are quite

surprised when they see a Purohita at their doorstep to perform a

puja," says Thatte. "I especially recollect an incident when an old

woman hugged me after my discourse simply because she was so glad to

see another lady like her reading out the religious verses."

The Purohitas step in for all kinds of pujas, house-warming sessions,

thread ceremonies, festivals like Ganpati and Diwali and also

occasions like the 'mangalagour', which is celebrated during the month

of Shravan by newlywed Hindu women. While caste and age is no bar to

be a member of the group, proficiency in the shlokas is a must.

"We have three exams, which every applicant must clear, in order to

practise outside. These include learning the Sandhya, Atharvashirsh,

Shivamahima and Gayatri mantras amongst others," said a Purohita.

While the members are mostly middle-aged housewives, some

professionals have also stepped into the field to practise part-time.

There is a lesser number of collegians or young women in the group.

"Besides singing bhajans and performing pujas at homes during

festivals, we all hold lectures at primary schools to teach children a

few verses from the Gita or Ramraksha," says Thatte, "the motive being

to instill in them a sense of tradition at a young age."

SOURCE: The Times of India, TIMES NEWS NETWORK, "New-age Ganeshotsav

has a place for priestesses," by NITASHA NATU

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