Five Inhuman Traditions Indian Widow Have to Do
- Aljazeera
VIVA – Becoming a widow in India is the hardest thing to pass. Indian widow is rejected by their communities and abandoned by their loved one. Also, for Indian women, losing their husbands is more than just scary.
Despite coming a long way from the time when social evils dominated society, Indian widows still have to abide by dehumanizing practices. These practices not only turn them into social outcasts but also affects their lifestyle on a day-to-day basis.
Here are some inhuman traditions for Indian Widows have to do, as quoted from various sources.
1. Prohibited from Participating in Events
Wanita India.
- U-Report
In India, widows are considered to have a lower social status. So, they are kind of ostracized. Many religious rituals are not allowed to be followed. It is even forbidden to come to weddings. Because it is believed to be a resistance to bad luck that might come to the bride and groom.
2. Must Self-Isolation
After the death of their beloved husbands, Indian women generally have no choice but to live in vidhwa ashrams run by the government, private companies. This follows the Hindu tradition that a widow cannot remarry. She must stay at home, remove her jewelry, and wear clothes with mourning colors.
3. Must Wear 'White' All Her Life
pengantin wanita di India /Ilustrasi.
- dailymail
Some of the most afflicted Hindus in India believe that a woman whose husband dies is no longer alive. This is because she is believed to have failed to retain her soul.
To symbolize their social status as a widow, these women must wear white clothes or saris for the rest of their lives. White clothes in India symbolize the meaning of mourning, as a sign of grief for their husbands who hid them.
4. Hair Shaving Tradition
Not only do women have to wear all white, but widows are forced to leave everything related to marriage, such as sindoor, mangalsutra, and in extreme cases even jewelry. In addition, their accessories must also shave their hair as a symbol of the crown on their body.
