Shamans who help pilgrims 'place curses on enemies' on strike over pay dispute

26 October 2023 , 14:24

1124     0

Shamans sit at the entrance of Seenigama Devale shrine as part of their strike (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Shamans who help travelling pilgrims curse their enemies went on strike today over a pay dispute.

Off Sri Lanka’s south coast is a small islet with the Seenigama Devale, a shrine that hosts daily ceremonies. During these, participants help guide the grinding of fiery peppers over a millstone in spiritual acitivities. A ritual offering is made to Devol, a deity whose duties involve comforting those faithful to him and unleashing immense suffering and pain on their enemies.

However, the temple’s chief shaman, D.M. Kumara and his nine colleagues have gone on strike - bringing the spiritual activity, and curses, at the shrine to a halt. They’ve walked in protest over new rules that have seen their pay cut. Administrators have said that Kumara and the shaman can now only take 30 per cent of the cash, gems and jewellery offered to Devol.

Before, they were pocketing everything that came in. As apart of the strikes, the shaman took to sitting on the grand golden archway marking the entrance to the shrine.

Alongside taking industrial action, the shamans have appealed to their god Devol to intervene on their behalf. The Mail reported, the shaman said: “We have taken our grievance to god Devol, but we are taking direct action because we have not seen immediate results. Divine influence will take a little time to work.”

Striking teacher forced to take a second job to pay bills ahead of mass walkout

But the temple’s interim administrator, Sarath Disenthuwa Handi, told AFP the strikes were unnecessary because the shaman would still be earning about ten times the average salary of a new employee in the state sector - raking in around $1500 (£1,236) a month.

Whilst Sri Lanka is a predominantly Buddhist country - a faith that doesn’t typically worship deities - in some local practice elements of Hindu and animistic worship are undertaken. In some sermons, Buddhist priests will invoke the blessings of 330 million gods - a reference to the numerous Hindu pantheon.

Devol is one of these gods - and according to Handi a more popular one with over 1,000 people visiting the temple each day.

Kieren Williams