Themes of repression, anguish and revolt for freedom against set religious traditionsin “Jogwa”-The Awakening

Abstract

Jogwa, a Marathi movie, released in 2009,is based on an age-old religious tradition of compelling young boy and girl to get married to Yellammagoddess andconferred themas Jogta (male) and Jogtin (female) by their parents. Yellamma is hindu goddess worshipped in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana. Even you can find temples of Yellamma in every village of Maharashtra state. The goddess is variously known as Renuka, Yellamma and Yellamaai. If something inauspicious happens in family, people have inclination to visit Yellamma temple to know the goddess’ call. Situated in Karnataka’s Saundatti mountain, people used to vow goddess by offering their sons as Jogta and daughters as Jogtin in the service of Yellamma. Male Jogta also wears saree and blouse, cowrie shell necklace, bangles and apply turmeric on forehead as a female Jogtin.