Akshay Valmiki, a Dalit boy, runs his fingers through the coarse white janeyu or sacred thread, an upper-caste symbol. At first, he wears it around his neck like a garland, but the priest shakes his head in disapproval. Confused, Akshay tries a second time and this time the priest smiles from the other side of the sacred fire.

Twelve-year-old Akshay, who belongs to the Valmiki community that traditionally engages in scavenging and cleaning, is the youngest among 251 caste members who participated in an Upnayan or sacred thread-binding ceremony organised by the Delhi-based Swaraj group on Sunday at Aryapura. Akshay didn’t quite get the symbolism of the thread. All he knew was he could flaunt it at school, something that would elevate his status.

In the background, a statue of Valmiki, the community’s patron saint, sits on a pedestal with Lord Ram occupying the lower rung, setting the tone for the ritual.

The event is the first in a series of 100 such ceremonies planned across the NCR. There are also plans to hold such rituals for Dalits to adopt upper caste markings throughout the country. The project would cost about Rs 1 crore, members of the Swaraj group said.

“These people have not been allowed to venture into Indian culture,” says Dr Sambit Patra, the founder and president of the organisation. “They are equals. This may not being any change in the near future but it will definitely help Dalits to come into the mainstream. This is nothing short of a social revolution.”

... contd.