As Nepal celebrates its biggest Hindu festival Dashain with devotees worshipping the goddesses of power, there is an additional cause for women to rejoice.

Traditionally, only men from the Brahmin community -- who were regarded to be at the top of Nepal's caste society -- were appointed as priests at Hindu temples.

But now, in a sign of the changing times, at least two temples in the former Hindu kingdom have now opened their doors to women priests -- and that too, from the Dalit community, is regarded to be at the bottom of the social hierarchy and still treated as untouchables in some villages.

In Parbat district in western Nepal, some 170 km west of Nepali capital Kathmandu, the change can be seen at the Durga Bhagwati temple in the main town Kushmabazar.

The temple was built six years ago by the Dalits of the district themselves after the Brahmins barred them from entering other temples.

A year after that, 50-year-old Dalli Nepali was appointed by the community to officiate as the priest. She now performs weddings and other functions among the community.

While Parbat might seem to be far away, the transformation has also taken place in a temple in the heart of capital city Kathmandu. The Chhakkubakku Bhagwati temple lies opposite the Constituent Assembly.

Said to have been in existence since the 7th century when it was built by King Narendra Deva of the Licchavi dynasty, its present priest is a 43-year-old Dalit woman, Sukmaya Rokaya.

Rokaya's father was a cobbler and when she was young, her family was regarded as untouchables by villagers and not allowed to enter the village temple or take part in village festivals.

After her marriage, Rokaya came to Kathmandu where her mother-in-law was employed to sweep and clean the Chhakkubakku Bhagwati temple.

The president of the committee managing the temple was impressed by Rokaya's hard work to keep the temple clean and decided to appoint her as a priest since she had the dedication and integrity needed in a priest.

Initially, the appointment was opposed by many people who threatened to boycott the temple.

However, Shyam Prasad Aryal, the president, said the temple withstood the threats and now, two decades later, everyone has come to accept Rokaya.

The change in society is reflected in Rokaya's own life as well.

While she and her three sisters were not educated, all her four children are. Her eldest daughter has been trained to teach in schools.

Her son is studying commerce and helping his father run their business of building digital billboards.

Rokaya, who still can't read or write, does not use the Sanskrit verses chanted by Brahmin priests during ritual worshipping.

Instead, she lights the evening lamps before the deities and offers flowers.

"I keep the temple sparkling clean and offer the gods what comes straight from the heart," she told Xinhua.

Source: Xinhua