Sidi ritual given up at Udusalamma jatra

Authorities’ persuasion makes villagers take decision

The Udusalamma jatra mahotsava, held once in two years at Hariharapura in Holenarsipur taluk, was different this time on. The ritual of Sidi – hook swinging – which was a part of the festival these years, was not conducted during the event on Saturday, thanks to the anti-superstition law that prohibits practices involve inserting hooks into flesh. Several progressive organisations had urged the administration to stop the practice as per the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017, that came into effect on January 4, 2020. The taluk administration had issued instructions to the villagers not to hold the customs. All these years, hook-swinging and locking mouths of women with iron hooks were part of this festival. Residents of Hariharapura and six other villages nearby take part in the event. A few male members of select Dalit families of Chakenahalli performed Sidi. They had to maintain fast for a week before the festival day. Early morning on the day, iron hooks were inserted into the flesh of their back. Later they were tied to a long tree trunk, mounted on a wooden pedestal. Hundreds of people gathered would cheer as the trunk with men tied to it was made to rotate in 360 degrees. Besides that, many women, including those from upper castes, did take part in the procession with their mouths locked by iron hooks. However, this time, in place of Dalit men, garlands were tied to the tree trunk and a symbolic Sidi was held. No woman had her mouth locked up with iron hooks.