Saavan Ritual: Women Follow Ancient Custom of Living Without Clothes for 5 Days – Here's Why
New Delhi (Uttam Hindu News)- Married women of the village give up their clothes for five days in the holy month of Saavan. During these five days, neither the husband and wife communicate with each other nor come close to each other. This vow of silence and detachment becomes a living example of the height of restraint.
Peeni, a small village in Himachal Pradesh, located in the lap of the Himalayas, may look ordinary from a common point of view, but as soon as the month of Shravan arrives, the valleys here start telling a unique tale of faith and penance. In this divine village of Manikaran valley, a unique tradition begins with the arrival of the month of Shravan, which is still standing firm in the storm of modernity - Nirvasan Vrat. There is a belief in the village that if a woman does not follow this tradition, then she gets to hear some bad news within a few days or some bad incident happens to her.
villagers believe that if a woman deviates from this tradition, then the shadow of misfortune starts hovering over her. Stories of such instances are narrated from generation to generation in the village, in which untimely death, illness or disaster is linked to breaking this fast. The roots of this mysterious tradition lie in a divine tale. It is said that in the past, this village was terrorized by demons. They used to kidnap the well-dressed and beautiful women of the village. To free the village from this crisis, 'Lahua Ghond Devta' appeared. He killed the demons and gave protection to the village. As a form of gratitude towards him, this fast was started, in which women sacrifice their beauty and ornaments and demonstrate moral purity and dedication.
During this period, men are also required to observe self-restraint – abstinence from meat and alcohol, humility in behaviour, and complete surrender to the deity. This five-day ritual is not just a tradition, but a spiritual discipline—where the body is limited and the soul communicates with Shiva.
