Girls become Devadasis through a de

Girls become Devadasis through a dedication rite
referred to in Kannada as ‘‘deva-rige-bidu’’ (to
‘‘leave/give to the God’’) or ‘‘muttu kattavadu’’
(‘‘tying the beads’’), which connote the giving or
marrying of girls to deities as symbolized through
the tying of beads. The dedication ceremony
typically occurs between the ages of 5 and 10;
however, some may become Devadasis after puberty
due to unwanted pregnancies or other familial
circumstances. The reasons for dedication vary
and include: the ‘unwritten’ rule that the one girl
per Devadasi family enter the system; poverty; an
absence of male heirs to provide for the family; to
appease deities in times of sickness or drought; or as
a boon to a God/Goddess for a specific family
prayer. In the face of legal prosecution most
dedications take place in underground settings and
are conducted by priests, who extract considerable
fees for the service