The Awkward 'Sati" System Of Nepal - Bring You Goosebumps

The world is strange and there are some disgusting history in every corner. As i have shared you many hidden stories of Nepal in my previous blogs, Today i want to share something so awkward history of "Sati" system which will bring goosebumps after reading this. Hope you will find interesting.

Sati is the ancient Nepalese practice of burning a widow on her husband's funeral pyre, or burying her alive in his grave. This practice is associated with Hindu traditions. The system was exists in the hindu religion in ancient Nepal that is during the ruling time of Licchavi dynasty. Basically the custom of Sati was believed to be a voluntary Hindu act in which the woman voluntary decides to end her life with her husband after his death. But there were many incidences in which the women were forced to commit Sati, sometimes even dragged against her wish to the lighted pyre.

The name is taken from the goddess Sati, wife of Shiva, who burned herself to protest her father's ill-treatment of her husband. She has to be burn to death if her husband died which is akward. In addition, strong societal pressure was exerted on women to accept sati, particularly if they had no surviving children to support them. A widow had no social standing in traditional society, and was considered a drag on resources.

After so many years of practices, finally Prime Minister Chandra Shumshere stop this system. He didn't find justice on a woman immolate herself on the funeral pyre of her husband. It was not easy for the then Prime Minister to enforce this ban and there were numerous arguments mounted against his decision.

In conclusion, the ritual of sati has rich and intriguing history. The account of sati examples were discovered in numerous documents all over the world. It makes it harder to argue that sati is rather a choice a widow must make and not a predestined certainty. The evidence from the texts can be interpreted as a supporting ground for sati. It sounds noble, and pure, and chaste, to show the world the devotion the widow has for her deceased husband. In reality, it is just a tradition, a ritual like any other, that one can chose to forgo. In modern times there is no more stigma attached to being a widow, no shame to carry with the title, no burden to lay on those who are still alive. Modern society is all about equality of rights for everyone.

Image Source

Jhola (Nepali: झोला) is a 2014 Nepali film based on a Sati culture in which wife had to immolate herself upon her husband's death, typically on his funeral pyre. For her role, She won Best Actress award at SAARC Film Festival held in Sri Lanka, 2014. Enjoy the movie with subtitles.

Thank you for your time!
@bindu