Women-Centric Rituals In Hinduism

We always say that Hinduism is not a religion. It is a way of life. That is why, the Hindu life is governed mostly by rituals and customs rather than rules. The rituals in Hinduism thus take on a special significance. The rituals for women are particularly interesting. Women follow a set of rituals in Hinduism that gives them special festivals to celebrate.

There is no dearth of women-centric rituals in Hinduism. That is why Hindu women have a pivotal role in most of the festivals and pujas. Here are some of the most interesting rituals for Hindu women.

Women-Centric Rituals In Hinduism

First Menstruation Ritual
Some rituals in Hinduism celebrate the first menstrual period of a girl. When a girl bleeds for the first time, she is given a bath with milk and turmeric. Girls also receive many gifts and new clothes from their parents and relatives. It is very similar to an all-girls slumber party. This ritual celebrates the coming of age of Hindu women.

Sindhara: The Monsoon Ritual
Sindhara is a North Indian ritual for women. This festival is specially meant for women and comes in the month of Shravan or during the Monsoon season in India. Sindhara is a fun time for girls when they are given new clothes and gifts. Married women are sent to their maternal home for 2 or more weeks. They receive special gifts from their in-laws as well as parents for the Sindhara festival.

Godh Bharai: The Baby Shower
Hindu women have a special ritual to bring forth the joys of motherhood. They are decked up in new clothes, jewellery and all the frills on the day of their Godh Bharai. Then they receive gifts as a form of blessing from all the elderly women. They are also fed all their favourite dishes.

Sindoor Khela
This is a primarily Bengali ritual for women. Shakti is the core form of the female Goddess in Hinduism. And all forms of Shakti are worshiped keeping women power in mind. On the 10th day of the Navratri or Durga puja, women gather together to adorn Maa Durga with sindoor which is a Hindu symbol of marriage. The women also adorn each other with sindoor making the ritual a fun-filled event like Holi.

Kumari Puja
On The ninth day of Navratri, girls below the age of puberty are worshiped as an avatar of the Devi. Kumari puja is practised in different forms at various places. The girl who sits in the place of the Devi gets to wrap a red chunri, kala chana and kadai ki puri to eat and some hard cash and gifts too!

The women centric rituals in Hinduism celebrate the essence of womanhood and give a place of prominence to women in society.