Victims of Superstition: Branded as Witches

Every year hundreds of women, mostly elderly, widowed and from lower caste and poor families, are branded as witches, tortured, and even killed in Nepal.

My ongoing personal photo documentary project…..Victims of Superstitions: Branded as witches 

There are many forms of violence perpetuated against women worldwide even in the 21st century.  Accusation of witchcraft is one the serious forms of violence that still exists in Nepal. Many people in Nepal are still superstitious and believe in supernatural powers. Centuries old conservative beliefs are still deep-rooted in social and cultural structures of the society.

One of the example of such superstition that is attached with cultural celebration is the so-called “Ghost Festival” that happens at the bank of Kamala River on every Kartik full moon. Thousands of pilgrims visit to Kamala River on the eve of Kartik full moon with “Dhamis” with the belief that the Dhamis will help them to eradicate their illness that they believe happened due to the family god ” Kul deveta” or other evil person in their village and society.

The devotion of thousands of pilgrims towards the Dhamis on this festival renews the beliefs of people on superstition every year. The centuries old conservative beliefs then become the part of the society and it is integrated in the cultural activities by the Dhamis to maintain their superior position in the society that rules the mind of these people who become superstitious and some time these superstitious beliefs lead to violence in the society whether it is physical or mental. Kanti Yadav is one of many women who are victim of such violence which is against the law but that happens on the name of superstation that is integrated in Kamala River Cultural Pilgrimages in Nepal.

The Government has shown little presence to eradicate such beliefs and ill practices.  Most people still rely heavily on traditional methods of healing in Nepal. Health care is usually left to Dhamis or Witch Doctors.  When people do not have access to modern health services, doctors are substituted by Dhamis. As a result, the superstitious accusations of witchcraft become a part and parcel of people’s lives in many villages and towns. Accusation of witchcraft has become an easy tool in society to exercise power over women in rural areas in a patriarchal society.

Women are tortured, harassed, and paraded naked, forced to eat human excreta, and ostracized from their village. Often widows, from poor and lower classes and Dalits (so called low-castes) are termed as Bokshi, or witch, and are subjected to extreme abuse and discrimination. Survivors of these violations are often left in very difficult circumstances– isolated and alone.

In February 2012, Dhegani Devi Mahato, a widow aged 40, was burnt to death by locals accusing her of practicing witchcraft in Bharatpur district of Nepal. In August 2013, a 45-year-old woman, Parvati Devi Chaudhari of Parsa District was beaten to death by her neighbors on charges of practicing witchcraft.

On 10th December 2013, the day when the 16-day global campaign against violence against women ended, Chanamati Magrati from a remote village of Dhading district, was severely beaten on the accusation of witchcraft by her neighbors, until she fell unconscious. After the incident I went to the village of Chanamati Magrati to continue my photo documentation project on this issue. Chanamati said, “They attempted to kill me with a sickle, but I managed to save my neck”. She almost lost one of her fingers as she defended herself. “The physical wounds in my body may recover as time goes, but the pain in my heart will never recover. They accused me of being a witch”, Chanamati added with great grief.

Kalli Kumari B.K, a 50-year-old Dalit woman from Lalitpur district of Nepal, remembers 20th March 2009 as a black day in her life. A group of people led by the Headmistress of the local school accused Kalli of practicing witchcraft. She was mercilessly beaten up and forced to eat her own excreta in public. “I accepted that I am witch when they took out blades to chop my breasts, I had no other choice at that time”, she said with tears in her eyes.

The Constitution of Nepal,  guarantees the right to have dignified life as fundamental right and also affirms the right to equality and prohibits any kind of discrimination. Nepal is also bound by the principles of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But even as the law guarantees rights, women are still tortured, killed and discriminated on charges of witchcraft. In July 2001, Marani Devi, 55, from Simardahi Village in Mahottari District was accused of practicing witchcraft and beaten mercilessly by villagers and left to dead. She is still fighting in Nepal’s Supreme Court to get justice.

According to a report published by Women’s Rehabilitation Centre Nepal, the most vulnerable group who were accused as witches were from indigenous communities, (33%) and Dalit, (30%). Informal Sector Service Centre Nepal, reports that 51 women faced violence based on the accusation of witchcraft and two of them were killed in 2011 in Nepal. The report also shows that 55% violence against women on charges of witchcraft is from the Terai region of Nepal.

 I believe in the power of photo stories as one of the best mediums of communication for social awareness and change. To complete this photo documentary project, any help in any form, from any person or organization is appreciated.

Click on the photos for slideshow

Many people in Nepal are still superstitious and believe in supernatural powers

 

http://e.myrepublica.com/component/flippingbook/book/1529-republica-07-march-2014/1-republica.html

Published in the Republica Daily , THE WEEK Edition. 7th march 2014

                                                            http://e.myrepublica.com/component/flippingbook/book/1529-republica-07-march-2014/1-republica.html

Click on the photos below for slideshow

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