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India's temple to the Aids goddess
The so-called 'Aids demon' in Bombay |
By Habib Beary in Bangalore
Hundreds of people in the southern Indian state of Karnataka have taken part in a highly unusual religious procession to mark World Aids Day.
The march culminated at a temple which houses the statue of the goddess of Aids.
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Indian Aids facts |
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3.5m Indians carry the HIV virus |
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NGO's estimate the number is far higher |
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60% of Asian Aids cases found in India |
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India can't afford to freely distribute Aids treatment drugs |
Hundreds of villagers, especially women and children, gathered in the village of Menasikyathana - about 30 km (20 miles) from Mysore - to participate in the procession.
Making its way through the winding lanes of the village, the procession finally stopped at an open air temple containing the figure of the goddess of Aids, or what local villagers call AidsSamma.
A benign deity
Believed to be a benign figure of protection, the deity is represented by a 1.2 metre (four feet) high stone slab, bearing the twin engravings of a male and female form, punctured at the centre by a symbol of the Aids virus.
About 500 school children marched in New Delhi |
Mr Girish said the temple's pillars bear information capsules about the debilitating virus - tracing out in the local language the route of the infection, and tips on prevention.
At the end of the procession, students took vows to educate villagers on Aids, and to prevent the further isolation of those who are already infected.
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01 Dec 99 | Africa |
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HIV warning for Nigeria |
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04 Oct 99 | Africa |
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Africa on the Aids frontline |
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HIV hits 50 million |
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26 Nov 99 | Medical notes |
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Aids drugs and the developing world |
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23 Nov 99 | Health |
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Thousands unaware they have HIV |
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01 Dec 99 | Health |
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World Aids Day in pictures |
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