Deuki
Encyclopedia
Deuki is an ancient custom practiced in the far western regions of Nepal
where a young girl is offered to the local Hindu
temple to fulfill an earlier made promise to gain religious merit.
The girl is supposed to offer service to the god or goddess of the temple but owing to their age and lack of skills, often end up as prostitutes
for the temples. In this respect, it is similar to India's devadasi
tradition.
The practice is currently in decline, but girls are still dedicated.
The child of a Deuki is known as a Devi.
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
where a young girl is offered to the local Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temple to fulfill an earlier made promise to gain religious merit.
The girl is supposed to offer service to the god or goddess of the temple but owing to their age and lack of skills, often end up as prostitutes
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
for the temples. In this respect, it is similar to India's devadasi
Devadasi
In Hinduism, the devadasi tradition is a religious tradition in which girls are "married" and dedicated to a deity or to a temple and includes performance aspects such as those that take place in the temple as well as in the courtly and mujuvani [telegu] or home context. Dance and music were...
tradition.
The practice is currently in decline, but girls are still dedicated.
The child of a Deuki is known as a Devi.