A Comparative Analysis of Ritual Performances of Women in Rural Communities, In Bengal, India

Abstract

Women nurture. This has been the expectation, experience, the timeless lore and historic fact of our lives. Not until this century have we started to ask the meaning and cost of this age-old assumption. Throughout history, women bonded together as they did traditional “women's work”. They wove understanding, consolation, and support even humor through communal cooking and sewing and childcare. Today, however, many women do “men's work, their jobs and careers are often based on male role models and, in the process they've become more and more isolated from each other. Even stay-at-home moms are experiencing this sense of isolation (Biziou, 2009).

This paper attempts to describe three communities namely Hindus, Muslims and Santals in Birbhum West Bengal and exhibits how ritual domain is a part and parcel of women s life in India. It throws light on the women world in ritualistic performances in rites of passage and ceremonies organized by the communities. The study focuses on life-cycle rituals of these communities on one hand and points out that each one of them has a great bearing in the life of an individual. On the other hand, it concentrates on ritual ceremonies performed in the villages and the way these festivals inculcate a sense of belongingness and solidarity.