In a shocking display of social discrimination, forty members of a woman’s family were forced to shave their heads and perform ritual sacrifices in Odisha’s Rayagada district after she married outside her caste. The woman, from a Scheduled Tribe (ST) background, tied the knot with a man from a Scheduled Caste (SC) in a neighbouring village, which triggered outrage in Baiganaguda village of Kashipur block.
Following the marriage, the entire family was ostracised by villagers, who demanded a purification ritual for their re-acceptance. The community warned them of a perpetual social boycott if they resisted.
Under immense pressure, the family was compelled to perform an animal sacrifice to a local deity followed by a mass head-shaving ceremony—a so-called purification ritual. Only after complying were they allowed back into village society.
A viral video showing the family seated in a field, heads shaved, sparked widespread condemnation. Kashipur Block Development Officer Vijay Soy has ordered a probe into the incident, and a block-level official has been dispatched to investigate. The administration has promised strict action based on the findings.
This is not an isolated case. Earlier in Bargarh district, a family was denied the right to perform last rites for a relative due to an inter-caste union.
Ironically, Odisha runs a government incentive scheme, offering ₹2.5 lakh to encourage inter-caste marriages. Yet, ground realities reveal deep-rooted caste prejudice still thrives.