http://indiaenews.com/2006-07/16210-...-old-taboo.htm

Orissa Dalits break age-old taboo

Wednesday, July 26th, 2006

Kendrapada - Dalits in this Orissa district, mainly
scavengers, have finally taken on the age-old shackles
of the caste system by building their own temple.

Called ‘Maa Mangla’, the shrine is situated in
Churiberhampur, a Dalit dominated village, reports
Grassroots Features.

Initially, the Dalits - who here are refused entry
into Hindu temples - collected donations from among
themselves and later approached their friends and
relatives in other villages.

Of the 1,400 people in Churiberhampur, about 900
belong to the Hadi caste, whose occupation is
scavenging.

They clean streets, toilettes and do other odd jobs.
After a day’s work hard, they earn not more than Rs.40
(less than a dollar).

The pride and happiness they have received after
building their own temple far outweighs the three
years’ toil they put in raising the structure.

‘I am happy that my dream has come true. Now I can
worship god inside a temple with all the rituals,’
said 85-year-old Rama Naik, a Dalit, his satisfaction
visible on his wrinkled face.

‘God is everywhere; one does not need to go to a
temple to pray. But one gets satisfaction by
worshiping him in a temple,’ he said.

Said Manguli Naik, another Dalit: ‘We were not allowed
into temples to perform any rituals on any occasion.

‘Once my two-year-old daughter fell sick and did not
respond to medicines. We wanted to put an ‘Akhand
Diyaa’ in front of the idol for her quick recovery. We
urged the priest, but the upper castes did not allow
us to enter the temple.

‘Then I had to go to another village where people
didn’t recognise me. I had to change my name and title
to visit a temple and pray for my daughter. Till today
I can’t forget that moment.’

Anadi Naik, another Dalit man, added: ‘When some of
our youngsters wanted to construct a temple in the
past, the elders turned down the suggestion.’

And so, the Dalits used to pray to god standing
outside the existing temple, explained Minati Naik.

‘Now my family attends puja every day. I am glad that
at least the next generation won’t be deprived of
their right to worship god,’ he said.

The temple has Sanskrit scholar Krupasindhu Pati as
priest, who performs rituals like any other Hindu
temples.

‘When I was asked to perform day-to-day rituals, I was
in a dilemma. My family didn’t want me to perform puja
in a Dalit temple, but I accepted the job,’ said Pati.
‘Dalits come to the temple every day.’

The villagers continue to collect Rs.1,000 a month for
the priest’s salary.