TOI exclusive: Barred from temples, they made their bodies a shrine to Ram
The Ramnami community in Chhattisgarh uses full-body tattoos of the name 'Ram' as a form of spiritual expression and social defiance against historical caste-based exclusion. This tradition has recently gained national attention through documentary film and cultural recognition.
Why it matters
The story documents a unique intersection of religious faith, cultural heritage, and resistance against social discrimination.
They think it... and they ink it. For members of Chhattisgarh's Ramnami community, Ram is a complete mind-body affair: God is not only a constant presence in their hearts, but also on nearly every inch of their bodies. And the story of these 'living temples' is an extraordinary mix of faith, identity, and social defiance.Last month's National Award for Bharathala Ganapathy's documentary, 'Ram-Nami', has brought the community renewed attention, with Chhattisgarh hailing it as a recognition of its cultural heritage. This year, the 82-year-old Chaltabagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata will be based on the theme 'Nishaan—The Mark', drawing inspiration from the Ramnamis.The last of the Ramnamis, who live mainly in villages along the Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh, and in the border regions of Maharashtra and Odisha, are getting on in years.
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