sumangali | | (Language: Sanskrit) | |
Alternate Spellings: | | Short Description: | A married woman whose husband is still living. | Long Description: | A married woman whose husband is still living. She symbolizes or represents all that is auspicious. |
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The term
Sumangali means "married woman" or "happily married woman" in
Tamil. It refers to a "single girl becoming a respectable woman through marriage".
‘Sumangali’ is the title given to a married woman living with her husband. Prarthanai means prayers. Sumangali Prarthanai is a ritual performed in South Indian Brahmin homes before ceremonious occasions like a marriage, thread ceremony, or a women’s death before her husband. Supposedly a function for women by women, but what about single women, widowed women, divorced women and trans women? Why are they excluded?
An essential factor in brahmin families and functions is gender inequality. Manusmriti influences Brahminical patriarchy so there is conditioned disrespect and objectification of women and femme people. The nature of this function, like numerous other functions, is incredibly patriarchal. It glorifies heteronormativity, encourages submission of women, justifies the power-relations of how men are superior to women and women are meant to be only wives and care-takers, and stirs the idea of how women should stay within the family and put the family before their own survival needs. It ostracises women who are not married, women who are divorced, and women who are widowed. It excludes queer women, trans women, and femme non binary people.
So do you think you fit that description? Will others accept your interpretation? Are you brave enough to stand up against your family and friends(?). Is it worth the fight? And what purpose does it serve?
You are divorced that is a fact of life, Accept it.
I wish you all the success in life, Unfortunately, it is not easy leading a life of a divorcee in India.