Kagganapalli Radha Devi

Last updated

Kagganapalli Radha Devi
Radha Devi Full.jpg
Radha Devi Kagganapalli receiving the Nari Shakti Puraskar in March 2019 Nari Shakti Puraskar
NationalityIndian
EducationBachelor of Administration
OccupationFounder & President Women barbers in Tirumala
OrganizationRail Hostess & Hospitality Management | Indira Institute of RailCrew (IIR) | Eco Finix Waste Management solutions | Xinc Innovations Pvt. ltd
Known forWomen Empowerment in winning a protest against a Hindu Temple's sexual discrimination
AwardsNari Shakti Puraskar
HonorsShrama Shakti Award from Govt Of Andhra Pradesh

Kagganapalli Radha Devi is an Indian activist who successfully protested against a Hindu temple that would only employ male barbers. The Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala, which gathers over a ton of hair every day, agreed to also employ female barbers to carry out the ritual tonsuring. Devi received the Nari Shakti Puraskar in recognition of her work.

Life

Radha Devi was the President of the Association of Andhra Pradesh Women Barbers. [1] She was also the President of the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams Women Barbers and these barbers were concerned that they were prevented in cutting hair at a Hindu temple because they were women. Radha Devi decided to champion their case. [2]

Women being tonsured by women at booth 97 and 99 at Venkateswara Temple Kalayanakatta.jpg
Women being tonsured by women at booth 97 and 99 at Venkateswara Temple

Many devotees have their head tonsured daily as an offering to God [1] at the Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh. The amount of hair collected every day weighs over a ton. [3] The hair is collected and stored in large warehouses and it is sold internationally creating a substantial profit for the temple. The hair is high quality and commands prices as high as $166/kg as it is used to make wigs outside of India. [3]

The hair-cutting tradition comes from a story that is told in which Venkateswara's head was hurt by a cowherd and his scalp had a bald patch. This was noticed by Neela Devi, a Gandharva princess who cut a portion of her hair and she transplanted it to his head. Venkateswara then announced that at the place where it happened, his followers should cut their hair and give it as an offering. [4]

In 2004 there was a reaction from Orthodox Jews when they were told that they could not wear wigs made from this ritually gathered hair. Many wigs were destroyed but the price of the hair remained stable. [3] Traditionally the barbers employed to do the tonsuring were male and members of the Nayee caste. This caused some discrimination and requests from women that they would prefer a female barber. [2] A protest led by Radha Devi overturned the objections and she was recognized with the Nari Shakti Puraskar, presented by Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India. [2] The awards were made at the President's palace, Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on International Women's Day 2019. [1] She met the minister Maneka Gandhi and afterwards she met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venkateswara</span> Form of the Hindu god Vishnu

Venkateswara is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu and is the presiding deity of the Venkateswara Temple, located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Venkateswara is also known by various other names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams</span> Hindu organization in Andhra Pradesh, India

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is an independent trust which manages the temples including the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, India. The trust oversees the operations and finances of the richest and the most visited religious center in the world. It is also involved in various social, religious, literary and educational activities. TTD is headquartered at Tirupati and employs about 16,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala</span> Hindu temple in Andhra Pradesh, India

The Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared on the earth to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. Hence the place has also got the name Kaliyuga Vaikuntha and the deity here is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. The temple is also known by other names like Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple and Tirupati Balaji Temple. Venkateswara is known by many other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa. The temple is run by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which is under control of Andhra Pradesh Government. The head of TTD is appointed by Andhra Pradesh Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hindu pilgrimage sites in India</span>

In Hinduism, the yatra (pilgrimage) to the tirthas has special significance for earning the punya needed to attain the moksha (salvation) by performing the darśana, the parikrama (circumambulation), the yajna, the Dhyana, the puja (worship), the prarthana, the dakshina, the seva, the bhandara, etc. These sacred places are usually located on the banks of sacred waters, such as sacred rivers or their tributaries, the kundas, the ghats, or the stepwells, or the temple tanks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaikhanasa</span> Tradition of Hinduism

Vaikhanasa or Vaikhanasagama is a tradition of Hinduism that primarily worships Vishnu as the Supreme God. The tradition draws its name from the philosophy propounded by its founder, Sage Vikhanasa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sapthagiri</span>

Sapthagiri which is also called Tirumala Hill is situated in hill town of Tirumala, near Tirupati in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. This hill is 853 m above sea level and is about 10.33 square miles (27 km2) in area. It comprises seven peaks, representing the seven heads of Adisesha, thus earning the name Seshachalam. The seven peaks are called Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabhadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri. The hill is famous for the famous and one of most holy Hindu deity Venkateswara swamy temple. The temple is on Venkatadri, the seventh peak, and is also known as the "Temple of Seven Hills". The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Venkateswara, a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Venkateswara is known by other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa. The temple lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini, a holy water tank. The temple complex comprises a traditional temple building, with a number of modern queue and pilgrim lodging sites.

In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a very long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred area or shrine of importance to innate faith. Members of every major religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nari Shakti Puraskar</span> Highest civilian honour for women in India

The Nari Shakti Puraskar is an annual award given by the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India to individual women or to institutions that work towards the cause of women empowerment. It is the highest civilian honour for women in India, and is presented by the president of India on International Women's Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The award was instituted in 1999 under the title of Stree Shakti Puraskar, renamed and reorganised in 2015. It is awarded in six institutional and two individual categories, which carry a cash prize of 200,000 and 100,000 rupees, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalyana Venkateswara Temple, Srinivasamangapuram</span> Hindu temple in India

Sri Kalyana Venkateswara swamy Temple is an ancient Hindu temple at Srinivasamangapuram in Tirupati. It is located in Tirupati District of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu and is referred to as Kalyana Venkateswara. The temple is categorised as an Ancient monument of National importance by Archaeological survey of India. It is one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venkateswara Temple, Dwaraka Tirumala</span> Hindu temple in India

Venkateswara Temple is a Vaishnavite temple situated in the town of Dwaraka Tirumala of Eluru district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu. The temple is also known by other name like Chinna Tirupati meaning Small Tirupati.

Sri Kalyana Venkatesvarasvami Temple is a Hindu-Vaishnavite temple situated at Narayanavanam, a town in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh state, India. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Kalyana Venkatesvara, an incarnation of Vishnu. The temple is situated at 2 km east of Puttur and 45 km south of Tirupati. It is believed that Lord Venkatesvara married Lordess Padmavati at this place and then moved to Tirumala.

Venkateswara Temple is an important Vaishnavite temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, built by a Tamil king and later expanded and renovated under the Vijayanagara Empire. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from the trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. The temple is situated at a height of 853 metres on Tirumala Hills which are part of Seshachalam Hills and is constructed in South Indian Tamil Architectural Style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padala Bhudevi</span>

Padala Bhudevi is an Indian social activist with Savara women to help people to improve entrepreneurship and their family diet. In March 2020 she received the Nari Shakti Puraskar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arifa Jan</span>

Arifa Jan is an Indian activist for felt rug making in Srinagar in Kashmir. Jan was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar on 8 March 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunita Devi (mason)</span>

Sunita Devi is an Indian mason honoured for building toilets. In her village 90% of the women did not have access to a toilet. After her work they all now have access. She was given the Nari Shakti Puraskar award in 2019 by the President of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manju Manikuttan</span> Indian beautician and social worker (born 1976)

Manju Manikuttan is an Indian beautician and social worker. She rescued lot of expatriate workers, who faced legal, health and work related issues in Saudi Arabia. She was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest award for women in India, in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. Seema</span> Indian scientist

A. Seema is an Indian scientist from Kerala who led a team that developed a bra that indicates whether the person wearing it has breast cancer. After it was sent for commercial development, she was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2019 for her work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chirom Indira</span> Indian entrepreneur

Kshetrimayum Indira Devi, known as Chirom Indira, is an Indian entrepreneur, designer, and social worker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syamala Kumari</span> Indian temple painter

K. Syamalakumari aka Syamala Kumari is an Indian temple painter. This was an occupation traditionally carried out by men. Her work includes painting at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala. She has been awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar.

References

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/110922/tirumala-brahmotsavams-1189-barbers-to-be-roped-in-for-tonsure-servi.html

  1. 1 2 3 P, Ambika (8 March 2019). "From masons, barbers to creators of forests and sustainable homes, nari shakti takes charge | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ms. Kagganapalli Radha Devi - #NariShakti Puraskar 2018 Awardee in Individual category". Ministry of WCD (India). 8 March 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Saritha Rai (14 July 2004). "A Religious Tangle Over the Hair of Pious Hindus". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  4. ↑ Tarlo, Emma (6 October 2016). Entanglement: The Secret Lives of Hair. Simon and Schuster. p. 66. ISBN   978-1-78074-993-8.
  5. ↑ Mohammed, Irfan (20 March 2019). "India president confers Manju with Nari Shakti Puraskar award". Saudigazette. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.