Thread Ceremony- A foot towards Educational Journey
India, being a diverse country there are many religions, cultures, customs, and traditions experienced here. Millions of people are diversified into various cultures and traditions. Hence our country is also known as a ‘Mini World’ into this huge globe itself. Every culture has its specifications and traditions to be followed. Every culture celebrates its festivals by following certain customs and rituals.
There are various ceremonies in every culture to be followed. The main aim of these ceremonies is to bring along family and friends together to enjoy the ritual. May it be a house warming ceremony, naming ceremony, or the birth of a baby in the house people enjoy the moment along with traditionally performing the ritual. Hence ceremonies are considered to be a part of the joy. These ceremonies also bring people closer together in a joyous way.
Introduction
Thread ceremony embarks the beginning of the educational journey of a boy. In Hinduism, it is believed that a person is born twice, the first time a child is born when the child steps into this world, and the next time a child is born when he/she embarks their educational journey. This moment is celebrated in the form of a ceremony known as ‘Janeu’ in Hindi. The ceremony is abbreviated by various other names according to the varied cultures. The members of the family invite their relatives and friends for the ritual. It is being celebrated along with a feast to savor the ceremony.
The procedure of the ceremony
There is a specific way to perform the thread ceremony. It varies according to the culture of the individual. But there are a few common steps which are followed in every ritual. The ceremony is usually performed for the boys but today we even find the thread ceremony is performed for a girl as well. When the ceremony is performed for a boy then there are steps that have to be followed. A holy chant is being recited by the priest. The chant is being listened to by the boy and his parents.
For the ceremony, the boy’s head is shaved and then is bathed. After this procedure, the boy is made to wear a combination of three strands of thread. This thread is known as ‘Janeu’ in Hindi. It holds significant importance according to the ritual. It is believed that the aim of this ceremony is to mark the educational journey of the boy. Some people also follow the custom of making the boy ask for some grains from his family and relatives as his first food before the educational journey. It is also marked as the start of his spiritual journey as well.
After the completion of the ceremony, people bless the boy for a prosperous and bright future. A few of the people may also bring some presents as a form of blessing. After the completion of the ceremony, guests are treated with a meal organized by the family. People capture the moment by clicking pictures of the event and few of the families today also organize a small entertaining event in the form of dance and music as a part to enjoy the program.
Things needed for the ceremony
As the ceremony is performed according to certain customs and traditions it is necessary to know the things that are usually required to perform the ceremony. Let us have a glance at the queue of various things:
- Flowers
- Thread strands
- Sweets
- Ghee (clarified butter)
- Milk
- Sandalwood sticks
- Mango sticks to burn for the ritual
- Leaves of a mango tree
- Earthen lamps
- Foodgrains
- And various other things for the holy ritual
Services Required for the Ceremony
A ceremony is not just about the way it is performed and the things required but also require the assistance of a few more people in the form of services provided by them. So let us have a glance at the services required for the ceremony:
- A person to provide the booking for a temple or a venue to perform the ceremony
- Caterers
- Photographer
- Decorators
- Musician (for entertainment events)
- And many other small services
In this way, a Thread Ceremony is not just a small ceremony to perform but a moment of joy to be celebrated with family and friends.
