Commitment
Sacred Thread ceremony (Upanayana)
The Sacred Thread ceremony is a ceremony for boys in some Hindu communities to confirm they are of an age to take on religious responsibility. Girls are sometimes honoured in the same way, but it is rare for them to receive and wear the thread.
In some Hindu communities, the male participant’s head is shaved for the ceremony, symbolising a cleansing from their old ways of living. New clothes are put on after bathing. Gifts and blessings from family and friends are often received.
In some communities, the person asks family and friends for almsThe giving of food and/or money from a sense of religious duty. to show that they no longer expect the family to automatically provide for them now they are an adult.
Features of the Sacred Thread ceremony include:
- the JanoiHindu sacred thread for Upanayana ceremony. is made up of three strands, representing purity of thought, words and actions
- the cotton strands go over the left shoulder and under the right arm
- janoi wearers may chant a special mantraA sacred (holy) prayer or word which often is chanted or sung rather than just spoken. when putting on and taking off their sacred thread
- vows are made to obey all aspects of the first ashramaLife stages described in scripture as 1 - student; 2 - householder and parent; 3 - retirement and grandparent; 4 - sannyasin: a life of complete renunciation (most Hindus don't get to, or attempt stage 4).
Some young Hindus also accept a GuruCan mean God, teacher or guide. Usually means a teacher of religion. In Sikhism, it also refers to the ten human messengers of God. at this point and start their study of scriptureA piece of writing that has religious significance.. It is increasingly common for young Hindus in the UK and in urban India to have the ceremony at different ages.
