NAME: AMISHA RAMPERSADH
STUDENT NUMBER: 69951748
AFL1501 ASSIGNMENT 3
Ritu Kala Samskara – Hindu Coming of Age Ceremony
When I reached puberty, after menstruating for the first time, a coming-of-age event
was hosted at my place of residence. Being young and naive, I did not question what
the ceremony was about and I did not realise that what had just occurred was an
abbreviated form of a ceremony called the “ritu kala samskara”.
In the past, Indian parents would often arrange for their daughter's marriage to occur
a few years before she reached puberty. Prior to 1951, the traditional age of
marriage for Indian females was 13 years old. Prior to marriage, she would live with
her parents until she reached puberty, learning the household tasks she would
eventually undertake as a mother and wife. When she has reached puberty, she
would get married and move into the house of her in-laws, serve her husband and
live the life for which she had been prepared for by her parents. Hence, the
significance of the “ritu kala” not only recognized a young girl's important physical
and emotional transformations, but it also indicated her readiness to take on a
woman's responsibilities which typically included having a family of her own. The
ceremony is also believed to mark a turning point in a girl's spiritual growth.
This “samskara” (sacrament) ceremony is supposed to commemorate a girl's formal
initiation into adult society.
The day prior to the event, all the ladies in my immediate family had arrived to do the
catering. These ladies made several vegetarian Indian delicacies such as curries
and desserts to offer to the Gods during the prayers in the ceremony. They were
specifically selected for the catering as they make the most exceptional food ever.
These consumables may not be eaten or tasted by anyone before or during the
ceremony as respect to the goddess Lutchmee but it can be eaten after the
ceremony. The ladies also had to prepare the backyard with the decorations and
statues of the goddess “Lutchmee” because the ceremony was to be held facing the
eastly direction. My aunt also designed mehndi on my hands and feet. The
significance is that it is believed that “the darker the colour of mehndi leaves on the
hands of the girl that has reached puberty, the happier she will be in her
womanhood”. Garlands had to be made from marigolds and placed on the top of
every door leading to the front of my house to invite all the goddesses into the house
as a blessing. As soon as it got dark in the evening, I had to walk around the house
while placing candles everywhere so that I can benefit from the good things that will
happen in my future.
On the day of the of the ceremony, I was firstly presented with my first half-sari which
I wore for the ceremony. I was then bathed by my aunt while she did specific prayers
STUDENT NUMBER: 69951748
AFL1501 ASSIGNMENT 3
Ritu Kala Samskara – Hindu Coming of Age Ceremony
When I reached puberty, after menstruating for the first time, a coming-of-age event
was hosted at my place of residence. Being young and naive, I did not question what
the ceremony was about and I did not realise that what had just occurred was an
abbreviated form of a ceremony called the “ritu kala samskara”.
In the past, Indian parents would often arrange for their daughter's marriage to occur
a few years before she reached puberty. Prior to 1951, the traditional age of
marriage for Indian females was 13 years old. Prior to marriage, she would live with
her parents until she reached puberty, learning the household tasks she would
eventually undertake as a mother and wife. When she has reached puberty, she
would get married and move into the house of her in-laws, serve her husband and
live the life for which she had been prepared for by her parents. Hence, the
significance of the “ritu kala” not only recognized a young girl's important physical
and emotional transformations, but it also indicated her readiness to take on a
woman's responsibilities which typically included having a family of her own. The
ceremony is also believed to mark a turning point in a girl's spiritual growth.
This “samskara” (sacrament) ceremony is supposed to commemorate a girl's formal
initiation into adult society.
The day prior to the event, all the ladies in my immediate family had arrived to do the
catering. These ladies made several vegetarian Indian delicacies such as curries
and desserts to offer to the Gods during the prayers in the ceremony. They were
specifically selected for the catering as they make the most exceptional food ever.
These consumables may not be eaten or tasted by anyone before or during the
ceremony as respect to the goddess Lutchmee but it can be eaten after the
ceremony. The ladies also had to prepare the backyard with the decorations and
statues of the goddess “Lutchmee” because the ceremony was to be held facing the
eastly direction. My aunt also designed mehndi on my hands and feet. The
significance is that it is believed that “the darker the colour of mehndi leaves on the
hands of the girl that has reached puberty, the happier she will be in her
womanhood”. Garlands had to be made from marigolds and placed on the top of
every door leading to the front of my house to invite all the goddesses into the house
as a blessing. As soon as it got dark in the evening, I had to walk around the house
while placing candles everywhere so that I can benefit from the good things that will
happen in my future.
On the day of the of the ceremony, I was firstly presented with my first half-sari which
I wore for the ceremony. I was then bathed by my aunt while she did specific prayers
