Puri: The last surviving Devadasi of Shri Jagannath Temple here, Parasmani Debi breathed her last at her rented accommodation at Baliasahi in the pilgrim town Saturday. She was 90.
Parasmani Debi was suffering from age related ailments. Her last rights were performed at Swargadwar here by her adopted son Prasanna Kumar Das.
With her demise, over 800-year-old Devadasi tradition came to an end. The tradition started to lose its identity soon after the Odisha government took over the temple’s administration from the royal family.
Till 1980, there were only four Devadasis left and they were Harapriya Debi, Kokilaprava Debi, Shashimani Debi and Parasmani Debi. Shashimani Debi had predeceased Parasmani Debi on March 19, 2015, at the age of 92.
