Shreya opened the door of the flat and entered. As she took off her
slippers, she heard her mom Sandhya call from the kitchen, "Shreya, is
that you?" "Yes mom." she answered going into the
kitchen. "So, how was your final exam?" asked her mom. "I did
fine." Shreya replied. "Good. Lunch will be ready in a few minutes.
Why don’t you go wash your face and come?" asked her mom.
"Sure." replied Shreya heading off to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she and her mom were settled down to lunch. "Shreya, we are going to our village next week." said Sandhya. "What for, mom?" asked Shreya. "It's a family custom darling. Every sixth year, all women in our family who have attained puberty and are not yet in menopause get their heads shaved at the temple of the goddess of our fields. And in the sixth year, the fields are left to lie fallow. It's our way of giving thanks to the goddess for giving us such a beautiful crop year after year." "Mom, but a head shave?" protested Shreya. "Now Shreya, it's bad enough that I couldn't go last time. Don’t make things difficult for me." pleaded Sandhya. "Cant I just get a haircut? After all I used to have a bob till two years ago when I finished tenth." Shreya tried to negotiate. "No darling. It has to be a head shave." replied Sandhya.
"If it is every six years, then how come I never saw you get shaved?" Shreya asked again. "The year I got married I had my head shaved, and again in the sixth year. You wouldn't remember that because you were only four years old. I was supposed to go the last time, but your father had just changed jobs and we could not go. I don’t want to miss this again." said Sandhya. "Wasn't that the time you got a bob cut?" asked Shreya. "Yes" sighed Sandhya. "I had the beautician cut off my plait and sent that through courier. I couldn't get my head shaved though. It was bad enough that the plait was cut by someone who wasn’t the temple barber."
"I remember the look on the beautician's face though, when you asked her to cut off your long plait." giggled Shreya. "It's not funny Shreya. My plait was supposed to be cut at the temple, not in some fancy beauty salon." remarked Sandhya. "But why did you keep the bob cut for so long?" Shreya asked. "To be frank, I liked the freedom of short hair." replied Sandhya. "Is that why both of us stopped getting haircuts for the past two years now?" Shreya continued to pester. "Yes. Stop talking, started eating, and are you going to come with us and get your head shaved or not?" asked Sandhya. "Okay mom, okay,” said Shreya, "I'll also get my head shaved if it satisfies you." "That's my girl. And besides, by the time your degree college starts, your hair will be long enough you be styled into a bob." replied Sandhya. "No mom, this time I'll wear it shorter for a while." "Whatever you wish." replied Sandhya.
After they finished their lunch, Sandhya settled down to read a novel and Shreya was leafing through a magazine. "But what is the significance of the whole thing, mom?" asked Shreya again. "Well, just the way the goddess gives us a beautiful crop to harvest; we give her the harvest of our heads, our hair. This temple is in the middle of our orchards. We have a temple barber who does the job." replied Sandhya. "Who else will be coming?" asked Shreya. "Your aunts Balamma and Jayanti, and your cousin Pratibha, live in the village. They will be there. Vandana aunty will be coming from Vijayawada with your cousins Deepika and Divya, and Shobha aunty will be coming with Lavanya and your cousin Ramesh's wife Sheshamma." said Sandhya. "How was your head shaved, mom?" "The barber's wife prepares us for the shave, and makes the ritual first cut with a pair of scissors. The barber then takes over. Usually the bulk is cut off and the remaining hair shaved. For me, when I had my head shaved three months after marriage I was very nervous. I went to the temple wearing a plait. The barber's wife removed the flowers from my plait, and made a small cut at the base of the plait. The barber then caped me and used scissors to cut off my plait. Then he wet the remaining hair and shaved it off. The second time, I had my hair in a bun. This time though, the barber's wife pulled the bun free and plaited my hair before making the cut. Then the barber used scissors to cut the plait as usual. But then, he used comb and scissors to cut my hair really short and then shaved the rest of my hair,” reminisced Sandhya. "It is not always a plait though. He can cut off a bun too, and he can shave without using scissors. I've seen it done."
"It'll be fun to watch Deepika get shaved though. She always used to tease me about my bob." giggled Shreya. "That's between you girls, but don’t tease her too much. Okay?" said Sandhya. "Awww mom..." Shreya moaned. "Enough talk. I want you to start packing today. Don't leave anything behind this time." A week went by and Shreya found herself in an idyllic village. Their family had extensive family lands and orchards. The harvest was just finished and preparations for the puja at the temple were underway. The eldest aunt Balamma was supervising the whole thing. A week after their arrival, one morning at breakfast Balamma announced that the preparations were complete and the head shaves would be taking place the next day. They would be leaving for the temple at 8 AM sharp by bullock carts. Shreya slept restlessly that night.
That night at the barber's house, the barber was talking to his son Vijay, and daughter-in-law Kamala. As his wife was beyond menopause she would not be permitted to enter the temple. It would be the barber's son and his wife instead. The barber was instructing his son on procedure. "Son, pay attention. And you too my daughter. From now, it is your turn to carry out the fertility goddess' sacrificial shaves. You will have to give your wife a new pair of scissors. She will be the representative of the goddess. But, because she is a woman, she is forbidden from shaving hair. She will instead prepare each of the women as she sees fit and make a ritual cut. The unmarried girls are not to be prepared, unless they are wearing their hair loose. After that, you have to shave their heads. It doesn’t matter how you shave them, though. The first snip can be made anywhere, and your wife may also cut some length at the end of the hair. Again, not more than six inches. You may also cut the entire length of hair of one of the married women, but not the girls. Is it clear?" The barber's son and daughter in law nodded in unison.
"Balamma will decide the order in which they get shaved. She will be the first. Also, when one woman is being shaved, the next one should be in the process of getting prepared. Once the offerings are complete, the cut hair will be placed in the temple at the feet of the goddess for a week. After one week, Kamala, you should go and take that hair. It would then belong to you. Also, that night, you must get your own head shaved by Vijay. This is the surrendering of your own ego." "As you say, father. But what shall we do with the hair?" asked Kamala. "You can keep it if you want, or ask your husband to sell it for you. But under no circumstances should the hair be thrown away." "Okay father." she replied. She was getting very excited at the turn of events. She would give weekly oil head massages to Balamma, Jayanti and Pratibha. She always fantasized about watching their hair being cut. It looked like her dreams were coming true. Not only of watching the women get shaved, but also her own shave.
Later in the privacy of their bedroom, she approached her husband and said, "I have something to ask you." "What is it dear?" he asked her.
"Will you shave their heads the way I want to see it done?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"Will you do it?"
"I will, but you have to answer my question." he smiled at her.
"Okay. I want you to cut off Balamma's hair in a bun and then wet shave her."
"Okay. Any other plans?"
"Yes. I want you to cut Jayanti's plait and shorten her hair before shaving her. Oh, and, wet the hair before you shorten it."
"You seem to have planned these..."
She snuggled close to him and he put his arm around her. "Just a fantasy. Will you indulge me?"
"Sure dear. What about the rest? We don’t know how many women are there."
"Let's see now... If I make the snip at the crown, then I want you to shave directly and not use scissors. A cut anywhere else means I want you to cut the bun or plait first."
"Okay. How about shortening of hair then?"
"Hmmmm... This does not apply to Jayanti. If I run my thumb along the blades of the scissors after the snip, or if I cut the entire plait off, then I want you to dry shorten the hair. If I cut a little from the ends, then I want you to wet shorten."
"Pretty complicated. But I'll do it for you. But are you willing to shave your head as well?"
"Yes. I've always wanted to. I know my hair is long, but if you are the one to shave it, I will gladly submit to it."
Next morning the place was a beehive of activity. But under Balamma's efficient supervision, everyone was ready by 8 AM and by 8:30 they were in the temple. Vijay and Kamala were waiting there for them. He approached Balamma and said, "My lady, I am taking my father's place as you know my mother is no more allowed to come to this temple." “I know. So long as you know what is to be done." replied Balamma. "Don’t worry, my Lady. I will take care of everything. Please come. Everything is ready for you."
The temple had a covered and raised platform about two feet high and at one end was the sanctum of the goddess, set about 5 feet higher up from the floor of the platform. Carpets had been laid out on either side of the sanctum leaving an aisle leading up to it. There was a stool in line with the sanctum. A large basket was beside the stool. There was one more stool to the rear. All of them went and sat on the carpet while Balamma proceeded to start the worship. She lit the lamps and laid a couple of garlands on the goddess. Then she picked up a small box and asked the barber, "Are the scissors new?" "Yes, my lady." he replied. She laid the box at the feet of the goddess, closed her eyes and prayed for a couple of minutes. Then she took the box and gave it to the barber along with a water sprayer, and a few folded large white sheets. The box contained the tools the barber would be using: Scissors, comb, straight razor and half a dozen blades for the razor. Balamma applied a turmeric and vermillion dot on all of them, except the blades. She lit a lamp and placed it in front of the stool between it and the sanctum. One of the servants accompanying them had brought a bucket of water from the temple well. Kamala filled the sprayer with the water in the bucket and took a comb and the new scissors. It was time for the offerings to begin.
+---+
| | Sanctum
+-----+---+-----+
| |
| * | Lamp
| |
| # | Cutting Stool
| |
| +----+ +----+ |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | Sitting area.
| | | | | |
| +----+ +----+ |
| # | Preparation stool
| |
+---------------+
A few minutes later, she and her mom were settled down to lunch. "Shreya, we are going to our village next week." said Sandhya. "What for, mom?" asked Shreya. "It's a family custom darling. Every sixth year, all women in our family who have attained puberty and are not yet in menopause get their heads shaved at the temple of the goddess of our fields. And in the sixth year, the fields are left to lie fallow. It's our way of giving thanks to the goddess for giving us such a beautiful crop year after year." "Mom, but a head shave?" protested Shreya. "Now Shreya, it's bad enough that I couldn't go last time. Don’t make things difficult for me." pleaded Sandhya. "Cant I just get a haircut? After all I used to have a bob till two years ago when I finished tenth." Shreya tried to negotiate. "No darling. It has to be a head shave." replied Sandhya.
"If it is every six years, then how come I never saw you get shaved?" Shreya asked again. "The year I got married I had my head shaved, and again in the sixth year. You wouldn't remember that because you were only four years old. I was supposed to go the last time, but your father had just changed jobs and we could not go. I don’t want to miss this again." said Sandhya. "Wasn't that the time you got a bob cut?" asked Shreya. "Yes" sighed Sandhya. "I had the beautician cut off my plait and sent that through courier. I couldn't get my head shaved though. It was bad enough that the plait was cut by someone who wasn’t the temple barber."
"I remember the look on the beautician's face though, when you asked her to cut off your long plait." giggled Shreya. "It's not funny Shreya. My plait was supposed to be cut at the temple, not in some fancy beauty salon." remarked Sandhya. "But why did you keep the bob cut for so long?" Shreya asked. "To be frank, I liked the freedom of short hair." replied Sandhya. "Is that why both of us stopped getting haircuts for the past two years now?" Shreya continued to pester. "Yes. Stop talking, started eating, and are you going to come with us and get your head shaved or not?" asked Sandhya. "Okay mom, okay,” said Shreya, "I'll also get my head shaved if it satisfies you." "That's my girl. And besides, by the time your degree college starts, your hair will be long enough you be styled into a bob." replied Sandhya. "No mom, this time I'll wear it shorter for a while." "Whatever you wish." replied Sandhya.
After they finished their lunch, Sandhya settled down to read a novel and Shreya was leafing through a magazine. "But what is the significance of the whole thing, mom?" asked Shreya again. "Well, just the way the goddess gives us a beautiful crop to harvest; we give her the harvest of our heads, our hair. This temple is in the middle of our orchards. We have a temple barber who does the job." replied Sandhya. "Who else will be coming?" asked Shreya. "Your aunts Balamma and Jayanti, and your cousin Pratibha, live in the village. They will be there. Vandana aunty will be coming from Vijayawada with your cousins Deepika and Divya, and Shobha aunty will be coming with Lavanya and your cousin Ramesh's wife Sheshamma." said Sandhya. "How was your head shaved, mom?" "The barber's wife prepares us for the shave, and makes the ritual first cut with a pair of scissors. The barber then takes over. Usually the bulk is cut off and the remaining hair shaved. For me, when I had my head shaved three months after marriage I was very nervous. I went to the temple wearing a plait. The barber's wife removed the flowers from my plait, and made a small cut at the base of the plait. The barber then caped me and used scissors to cut off my plait. Then he wet the remaining hair and shaved it off. The second time, I had my hair in a bun. This time though, the barber's wife pulled the bun free and plaited my hair before making the cut. Then the barber used scissors to cut the plait as usual. But then, he used comb and scissors to cut my hair really short and then shaved the rest of my hair,” reminisced Sandhya. "It is not always a plait though. He can cut off a bun too, and he can shave without using scissors. I've seen it done."
"It'll be fun to watch Deepika get shaved though. She always used to tease me about my bob." giggled Shreya. "That's between you girls, but don’t tease her too much. Okay?" said Sandhya. "Awww mom..." Shreya moaned. "Enough talk. I want you to start packing today. Don't leave anything behind this time." A week went by and Shreya found herself in an idyllic village. Their family had extensive family lands and orchards. The harvest was just finished and preparations for the puja at the temple were underway. The eldest aunt Balamma was supervising the whole thing. A week after their arrival, one morning at breakfast Balamma announced that the preparations were complete and the head shaves would be taking place the next day. They would be leaving for the temple at 8 AM sharp by bullock carts. Shreya slept restlessly that night.
That night at the barber's house, the barber was talking to his son Vijay, and daughter-in-law Kamala. As his wife was beyond menopause she would not be permitted to enter the temple. It would be the barber's son and his wife instead. The barber was instructing his son on procedure. "Son, pay attention. And you too my daughter. From now, it is your turn to carry out the fertility goddess' sacrificial shaves. You will have to give your wife a new pair of scissors. She will be the representative of the goddess. But, because she is a woman, she is forbidden from shaving hair. She will instead prepare each of the women as she sees fit and make a ritual cut. The unmarried girls are not to be prepared, unless they are wearing their hair loose. After that, you have to shave their heads. It doesn’t matter how you shave them, though. The first snip can be made anywhere, and your wife may also cut some length at the end of the hair. Again, not more than six inches. You may also cut the entire length of hair of one of the married women, but not the girls. Is it clear?" The barber's son and daughter in law nodded in unison.
"Balamma will decide the order in which they get shaved. She will be the first. Also, when one woman is being shaved, the next one should be in the process of getting prepared. Once the offerings are complete, the cut hair will be placed in the temple at the feet of the goddess for a week. After one week, Kamala, you should go and take that hair. It would then belong to you. Also, that night, you must get your own head shaved by Vijay. This is the surrendering of your own ego." "As you say, father. But what shall we do with the hair?" asked Kamala. "You can keep it if you want, or ask your husband to sell it for you. But under no circumstances should the hair be thrown away." "Okay father." she replied. She was getting very excited at the turn of events. She would give weekly oil head massages to Balamma, Jayanti and Pratibha. She always fantasized about watching their hair being cut. It looked like her dreams were coming true. Not only of watching the women get shaved, but also her own shave.
Later in the privacy of their bedroom, she approached her husband and said, "I have something to ask you." "What is it dear?" he asked her.
"Will you shave their heads the way I want to see it done?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"Will you do it?"
"I will, but you have to answer my question." he smiled at her.
"Okay. I want you to cut off Balamma's hair in a bun and then wet shave her."
"Okay. Any other plans?"
"Yes. I want you to cut Jayanti's plait and shorten her hair before shaving her. Oh, and, wet the hair before you shorten it."
"You seem to have planned these..."
She snuggled close to him and he put his arm around her. "Just a fantasy. Will you indulge me?"
"Sure dear. What about the rest? We don’t know how many women are there."
"Let's see now... If I make the snip at the crown, then I want you to shave directly and not use scissors. A cut anywhere else means I want you to cut the bun or plait first."
"Okay. How about shortening of hair then?"
"Hmmmm... This does not apply to Jayanti. If I run my thumb along the blades of the scissors after the snip, or if I cut the entire plait off, then I want you to dry shorten the hair. If I cut a little from the ends, then I want you to wet shorten."
"Pretty complicated. But I'll do it for you. But are you willing to shave your head as well?"
"Yes. I've always wanted to. I know my hair is long, but if you are the one to shave it, I will gladly submit to it."
Next morning the place was a beehive of activity. But under Balamma's efficient supervision, everyone was ready by 8 AM and by 8:30 they were in the temple. Vijay and Kamala were waiting there for them. He approached Balamma and said, "My lady, I am taking my father's place as you know my mother is no more allowed to come to this temple." “I know. So long as you know what is to be done." replied Balamma. "Don’t worry, my Lady. I will take care of everything. Please come. Everything is ready for you."
The temple had a covered and raised platform about two feet high and at one end was the sanctum of the goddess, set about 5 feet higher up from the floor of the platform. Carpets had been laid out on either side of the sanctum leaving an aisle leading up to it. There was a stool in line with the sanctum. A large basket was beside the stool. There was one more stool to the rear. All of them went and sat on the carpet while Balamma proceeded to start the worship. She lit the lamps and laid a couple of garlands on the goddess. Then she picked up a small box and asked the barber, "Are the scissors new?" "Yes, my lady." he replied. She laid the box at the feet of the goddess, closed her eyes and prayed for a couple of minutes. Then she took the box and gave it to the barber along with a water sprayer, and a few folded large white sheets. The box contained the tools the barber would be using: Scissors, comb, straight razor and half a dozen blades for the razor. Balamma applied a turmeric and vermillion dot on all of them, except the blades. She lit a lamp and placed it in front of the stool between it and the sanctum. One of the servants accompanying them had brought a bucket of water from the temple well. Kamala filled the sprayer with the water in the bucket and took a comb and the new scissors. It was time for the offerings to begin.
+---+
| | Sanctum
+-----+---+-----+
| |
| * | Lamp
| |
| # | Cutting Stool
| |
| +----+ +----+ |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | Sitting area.
| | | | | |
| +----+ +----+ |
| # | Preparation stool
| |
+---------------+
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