RITUAL AND DRAMA IN THE WORSHIP OF THE GODDESS DRAUPADI
The South Indian Draupadi cult, which is very popular among Hindus in the province of Natal, South Africa, incorporates an ancient and extremely complex mythology and ritual. Alf Hiltebeitel, who has done extensive research in this area, comments that until recently almost all writing on the Draupad...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
ASRSA
1994
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| In: |
Journal for the study of religion
Year: 1994, Volume: 7, Issue: 1, Pages: 65-94 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | The South Indian Draupadi cult, which is very popular among Hindus in the province of Natal, South Africa, incorporates an ancient and extremely complex mythology and ritual. Alf Hiltebeitel, who has done extensive research in this area, comments that until recently almost all writing on the Draupadi festival, whether in India or in Hindu diaspora communities, has tended to concentrate solely on the firewalking ritual, as this is high drama which quite naturally attracts the attention of outsiders. However, Hiltebeitel's own fieldwork and research on all the Draupadi ceremonies within the context of the whole festival, now allow us to recognise and appreciate their richness and complexity, while still recognising that the firewalk is the climax of the festival (Hiltebeitel 1991:440). This article compares the details of the Natal Draupadi festivals with those described by Hiltebeitel in India, showing that while the local communities have preserved much of the ritual meticulously, they have largely lost touch with the accompanying mythology. |
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| ISSN: | 2413-3027 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of religion
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