It is customary in the South India for the devotees to get their head shaved at temples.  It is a mark of self denial like fasting.  Tonsuring shows the less importance given to one's own physical body's appearance.  Some offer it on fulfilling their desire on which they visit the deity of their like (Ishta Devata).  Even otherwise many offer their hair as a custom when they visit a temple.  

Yesterday being Hanumajjayanti, the birth anniversary of Hanuman who was a great devotee of Lord Rama, devotees thronged Bhadrachalam the pilgrim center of Rama.  As usual the tonsures were going on at the temple of Hanuman at Bhadrachalam.  

The barbers appointed by the temple authorities for this purpose are to take only the prescribed fee i.e., Rs.10/- for tonsuring.  But they wanted to cash in the heavy rush and charged Rs.50/- per head as per the principle of demand and supply.   Devotees objected for it and also for their complaints turned a deaf ear by the temple authorities.  

A person who is deceived by charging more is called tonsured in Telugu language.  Tonsuring is used in colloquial language for being taken for a ride.  The devotees said they were really tonsured by the barbers. (Gundu Kottaru).

(Aw-SriJa)