Why Hindu Women Are Not Allowed at Shamshan Ghats? | ISH News

People die because of old age, heart failure, accidents, etc. We are now talking only about Hindu rituals. So, as per Hindu traditions people are cremated in Shamshan Ghat. Shamshan ghats in every city are designated only for Hindus. Crematorium of Muslims and Christans have different names. Traditionally, shamshan ghats

were built near water bodies so that ashes can be immersed after cremation. Over the years, due to the rise of the cities, shamshan ghats have been built in cities as well. Hindus in the area perform last rites in these places and immerse the ashes in river at Haridwar,

Nashik or any other water body, as per Hindu traditions. If our father, grandfather, grandmother or anyone else passes away, it is natural for us to cry. We feel heavy-hearted for losing the relative. After a person passes away, his last procession takes place. But only men participate in the

last procession and not the women. Why? During the last procession, women return back midway and men continue with the procession. I fail to understand the reason. Hinduism has its own rule, traditions and culture. But I want to understand these customs in detail and not just know them as

a rule. We are just told that Hindu women are forbidden from entering the crematoriums. You all know that in June 2021, actress Mandira Bedi’s husband died at a verty young age. Mandira had carried a clay pot in one hand and held

the bier with the other and even

lit the pyre. The news made headlines with some praising her and some criticized her for breaking the customs. But let me tell you honestly, None of the Hindu scriptures mention banning women from visiting a crematorium or performing the last rites. If there is nothing in the scriptures, where

did this custom come from? Hold on! This Hindu custom has a scientific reason. You would be surprised to know that there is a scientific reason for not allowing women. Over the years, these customs were transformed and imposed as rules. But there are scientific reasons behind these customs. Let

me tell you two of them. The first is scientific and psychological reason. If a woman’s father, brother or mother passes away she is emotionally distraught and heartbroken. It is not easy for her. If the women accompany men to the crematorium, they tend to get highly emotional on seeing

the last rites. Men are known to be less emotional than the women and are able to control their emotions. Women are known to be more emotional on seeing their loved ones’ last rites. Sometimes the corpse cramps up due to heat and this can be more disturbing to the

women. Sometimes, due to an illness or someother reasons, the corpse jerks up and fall down. Humans cannot lift the body and put it back as it will be too hot, hence, the corpse needs to be beaten back into the pyre using bamboo sticks. Watching these disturbing scenes can

negatively affect the mental health of the grieving women as they are more emotional. That is the reason why women do not go to crematoriums. Therefore, in earlier times, the elders of the household asked women to stay behind. Women only helped changing the clothes on the dead body and

preparing for the last rites. Only emotionally stronger men were preferred to go to the crematorium and not the women. This is the psychological reason. Here’s what the second scientific reason says. Hindus have common crematoriums. While we use one pyre for our relative, other pyres are used by others.

There is a high probability that someone being cremated alongside, may have died due to an infectious disease. Therefore, there is always a chance of the virus and bacteria getting transferred to other people. That is why to remove the virus, after the cremation, we wash our hands and feet

before entering the house and then bathe. People misunderstand that not bathing after peforming the last rites bring back the soul. After the last rites, some people even use salt to ward off the spirit of the deceased. I always failed to understand why do I need to ward off

the soul of my loved ones by bathing or using salt. This was not the reason! Scientifically, viruses from the crematorium could get transferred to other people and harm them. That is why we need to bathe and not to ward off the soul. But to keep ourself clean. These

viruses can live in the hair for up to 2 weeks and that is another reason why women don’t go to crematorium. Men of the family, shave off their head after performing the last rites while the women do not and they have long hair. Women are more closer to

the children and if they go for the last rites, the virus in their hair may also affect the children. That was the reason why the elders forbidded women from going to the crematoriums. Over a period of time, they simply converted these into rules and the scientific reasons were

never told. I hope you all have understood the reason now. You all understood the 2 scientific reasons. Times have changed now and people have become broad-minded. Let me explain. If a couple have only daughter or daughters and no son? What will they do? If there the father dies,

should only search for a man to perform the last rites? Aren’t the daughters allowed? No. Even daughters should have the rights to perform the last rites. Some people are broad-minded and yes times have changed. If women do not feel any discomfort and are emotionally strong enough, they too

can perform the last rites. and if the family agrees to their decision then they definitely can. These 2 scientific reason are interesting, isn’t it? People just made these into customs and rules without telling the scientific reasons. Now that you know this, do you all want to know why

Christians and Muslims bury the dead? Let us know in the comments. We will then make a video and share it with you all.