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| Kathmandu, Thursday May 02, 2002 Baishakh 19, 2059. |
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Significance of bratabandha in
Hindu religion
By Suvecha Pant
KATHMANDU, May 1: More than 200 people from
different castes, creed, social strata and ages gathered at the Nepal Ved Vidyashram in
the city today demonstrating that peace and harmony can be achieved if one sets his mind
to it. It might seem a bit odd that not all of these people were participating in any
rally or anything of that sort. Why they came together was for performing the religious
rituals of the bratabandha (sacred thread ceremony).
At a mass bratabandha function organised here
today by the Ved VIdyashram of Kathmandu, 51 males (ranging from as small as seven years
to twenty-five years old) had their bratabandha performed.
There were three jagyas (the place where the
ceremony takes place) made for the bratabandha . This was so because the three groups of
participants - - Brahmins, Chhetris and Newars could perform the ceremony according to
their own cultures and traditions.
"Organising such functions enables families
to carry out such important rituals on their sons in less expensive and vidhipurwak
(according to Hindu tradition) manner" said the priest, the organiser of the mass
bratabandha , Keshav Adhikari.
"For just a mere 1500 rupees we have
provided the essentials required for the ceremony of a bratabandha , a venue to do the
bratabandha and other requirements related to this day," said Adhikari. "The 51
bratabandha boys had been here yesterday to perform the rituals of the purwanga," he
added.
The purwanga is performed a day before the
bratabandha . The significance of the purwanga is to worship different gods and deceased
ancestors for the success of the bratabandha .
Seven years old Sahayog Shrestha, who was
amongst the 51 boys, showed a sense of excitement on his face. The small boy enjoyed being
around so many people and kept jumping from one place to another.
His father, Gem Shrestha explained why he chose
to have a mass performance of bratabandha , " a bratabandha this way is easier,
cheaper and the rituals are finished in a short period of time."
Another father at the bratabandha , Ram Ji Bista
said, "Keeping the current delicate situation of the country in mind, I thought that
this was a way in which we could perform my son’s bratabandha peacefully",
adding, "There are no unnecessary hassles, expenditure and pressures that one
encounter in performing the rituals at home."
"With the performance of my bratabandha I
have finally become a man and a complete Hindu" said ten-year-old Sanjay Sharma,
adding with a sparkle in his eye, "I don’t know why but I have suddenly felt
grown-up."
The importance of the bratabandha in Hindu
religion signifies the transition from the bal ashram (child) to bramhacharya ashram
(young bachelor). Once a boy does his bratabandha , he can perform shraddha (religious
rites in the memory of deceased ancestors) and give dahbatti (first torch of cremation)
for his parents.
The boy would also become eligible to marriage.
However, if a boy marries without bratabandha , then he and his offsprings will be
downgraded by a step in the family hierarchy.
Moreover, if a boy dies without having performed
bratabandha , his family would not perform shraddha for him and he would be buried without
his funeral rite performed at the crematory.
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