عنوان

Weaving the Body and the Cosmos

Number

LA129740

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

Weaving the Body and the Cosmos

General Material Designation

[Article]

First Statement of Responsibility

Frédérique Apffel-Marglin, Julia A. Jean, Frédérique Apffel-Marglin, et al.

Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.

Leiden

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Brill

Text of Note

This paper explores the cultural context and ecological implications of two menstrual festivals in northeastern India: Rajaparba in Orissa and Ambuvaci in Kamakhya, Assam. We argue that these festivals are extremely fruitful sites to explore questions of women and power in religious communities where the Goddess is a central focus as well as their ecological implications for an integral worldview. These festivals, usually held at the beginning of the monsoon when the Hindu Goddess menstruates, are times when the earth is regenerated, when the body of the Goddess is regenerated, and when women and communities are regenerated in various ways. Participants report that pilgrimages to these festivals are indeed transformative and have positive impacts on their lives. As a result, we critique feminist arguments that claim that Hinduism is the basis for women's social disempowerment, and as a result, the only meaningful social change must occur on a secular basis. We also use these festivals to critique contemporary feminist developmentalist ideologies. This paper explores the cultural context and ecological implications of two menstrual festivals in northeastern India: Rajaparba in Orissa and Ambuvaci in Kamakhya, Assam. We argue that these festivals are extremely fruitful sites to explore questions of women and power in religious communities where the Goddess is a central focus as well as their ecological implications for an integral worldview. These festivals, usually held at the beginning of the monsoon when the Hindu Goddess menstruates, are times when the earth is regenerated, when the body of the Goddess is regenerated, and when women and communities are regenerated in various ways. Participants report that pilgrimages to these festivals are indeed transformative and have positive impacts on their lives. As a result, we critique feminist arguments that claim that Hinduism is the basis for women's social disempowerment, and as a result, the only meaningful social change must occur on a secular basis. We also use these festivals to critique contemporary feminist developmentalist ideologies.

Date of Publication

2020

Physical description

245-284

Title

Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology

Volume Number

24/3

International Standard Serial Number

1568-5357

Subject Term

earth

Subject Term

eastern India

Subject Term

goddess

Subject Term

menstruation

Subject Term

tantra

Subject Term

women

Frédérique Apffel-Marglin

Julia A. Jean

Call Number

10.1163/15685357-02402001

Electronic name

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y